Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10.10 am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from Departmental officials on the development of a NEETs Strategy

June Ingram, Director, Strategy & Employment Relations Division, and Jim Walker and Pascal McCulla, Migrant Workers and NEETs Branch, briefed the Committee on the work of the Department in developing a strategy to address young people who are not in education, employment or learning. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for further information on this issue

3. Matters Arising

Quinn Insurance – response from OFMDFM

Members noted the above response from OFMDFM in response to Committee correspondence following a meeting with Quinn employees in June 2010

NUS-USI paper on Student Loans

Agreed: Members considered a paper prepared in November 2008 setting out the NUS-USI position on student loan repayment and the salary threshold which triggers this, and agreed to ask the Department for an update on this issue

September 2010 Monitoring Round

Agreed: The Committee considered the statement from the Minister for Finance and Personnel on the outcome of bids made in the September 2010 Monitoring Round and agreed to write to the DEL Minister to ascertain how this will impact on his department

4. Briefing from the Construction Employers Federation on current issues facing the construction industry

The Committee received a briefing from John Armstrong, Managing Director, and Ciar án Fox, Federation Manager, on various issues currently challenging the construction industry and on the Federation’s plans for the way forward. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11.31 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting
11.32 am Mr Peter Weir left the meeting

5. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered the draft Statutory Rule, The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010, which has been laid in the Assembly and is subject to affirmative resolution:

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Statutory Rule, The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010, and, subject to the ESR’s report, recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.”

6. Committee Stage of the Student Loans (Amendment) Bill (Northern Ireland) 2010

The Committee completed its formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the above Bill and agreed the following:

Clause 1 – Student Loans: Effect of Voluntary Arrangement

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee is content with Clause 1”

Clause 2 – Short Title

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee is content with Clause 2”

11.39 am Mr Peter Weir rejoined the meeting

7. Correspondence

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.

8. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at forthcoming meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations.

9. Departmental Press Notices and Press Cuttings

Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices and Press cuttings

10. Any Other Business

Chairpersons’ Liaison Group

Members noted the key issues discussed at the meeting of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group, which was held on 21 September 2010

Members’ Attendance

Agreed: The Committee noted a record provided by the Central Committee Office of members’ attendance at Committee meetings during the 2009- 2010 session, and agreed that any further information requested should be supplied by Committee staff

Forward Work Programme – for information

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for September and October 2010.

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 6 October 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 29 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.50 am

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
6 October 2010

22 September 10 / Menu