COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Daithí McKay MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Dominic O’Farrell (Clerical Officer)
Mr Gareth Brown (Bursary Student)
Apologies:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.14am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions at Agenda items 5, 6 9 and 10 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 26 January 2011
Agreed: that the minutes are published on the Assembly website.
Matters Arising
Composite Request
The Committee noted the composite request for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
DFP: Response to Budget Research Paper
The Committee noted a reply from DFP regarding the Assembly research paper on the draft Budget 2011-15.
Agreed: to commission a paper from Assembly Research which could examine the Scottish and Welsh models with regards to the independence in which these legislatures set their budget, and any other legislatures as appropriate, to inform the Committee’s Inquiry Report.
Mr Girvan joined the meeting at 10.18am.
Agreed: members agreed to enter closes session during the discussion regarding the Options on the way forward for the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill.
Mr Frew joined the meeting at 10.21am.
The meeting moved into closed session at 10:21 am
4. Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill – Options on the way forward
The Committee considered a secretariat paper outlining options on how the Committee could proceed with the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill given the time constraints.
Members considered the following option:
“That the Committee reports its position within the 30-day statutory period (by 28 February) based on evidence received to date, which might be regarded as incomplete”.
Agreed: that members do not wish to proceed with this option.
Mr Girvan proposed the following option:
“That the Committee terminate Committee Stage within the 30-day statutory period and agree a short report explaining that the Committee is unable to complete its work adequately in the time available.”
Question put.
The Committee divided: AYES 3; NOES 4; ABSTENTIONS 0
AYES:
Mr Frew, Mr Girvan and Ms Purvis
NOES:
Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr O’Loan MLA and Dr Farry
ABSTENTIONS:
None
Question accordingly negatived.
The Chairperson sought further options from members.
Dr Farry proposed the following option:
“That the Committee extend Committee Stage to ensure a full and proper scrutiny of the Bill.”
Question put.
The Committee divided: AYES 4; NOS 3; ABSTENTIONS 0
AYES:
Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr O’Loan MLA and Dr Farry
NOES:
Mr Frew, Mr Girvan and Ms Purvis
ABSTENTIONS:
None
Agreed: that the Committee proceed with this option and invite further evidence from key stakeholders as identified.
Agreed: to table a Committee motion in the Business Office seeking approval from the Assembly to extend the Committee stage of the Bill until 23 March 2011.
Dr. Farry left the meeting at 11.00am.
The meeting reopened at 11.00am.
5. Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill - NI Human Rights Commission
The Committee took evidence from the following individuals from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner; Mr Ciarán Ó Maoláin, Head of Legal Services, Policy and Research; and Mr Daniel Holder, Policy Worker. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.07am
Mr Frew left the meeting at 11.17am
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 11.26am
Agreed: to write to the Minister for Finance and Personnel regarding the value of greater consultation with the NI Human Rights Commission at an earlier stage in the legislative process.
Agreed: to publish the written responses received to date, following the Committee’s call for evidence, on the Committee web pages.
6. February Monitoring Round - DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Ms Deborah McNeilly, Finance Director, Corporate Services Group (CSG) and Ms Brigitte Worth, Finance Branch, CSG. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Frew returned to the meeting at 11.33am.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 11.38am
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.40am
Agreed: to invite officials from Land and Property Services to brief the Committee on the error regarding interest payments and other rating matters.
Mr O’Loan declared an interest as a member of Ballymena Borough Council
Agreed: to invite representatives of SOLACE NI to give evidence to the Committee on relevant rating issues.
7. Subordinate Legislation
Members considered two proposals for Subordinate Legislation from DFP.
- SL1- The draft Rates (Unoccupied Hereditaments) Regulations (NI) 2011
- SL1- The Rates (Completion Notices) (Financial Adjustments) Regulations (NI) 2011
Agreed: to schedule an evidence session with DFP officials for clarification on the policy proposals.
Dr. Farry returned to the meeting at 11.53am
The Committee agreed to take agenda item 11 next.
8. Correspondence
The following items of correspondence were noted:
- DFP: Energy Efficiency Measures and the Green New Deal;
Agreed: to seek further clarification from DFP officials during the proposed evidence session on the proposals for statutory legislation.
- DFP: Forecast Outturn Reports;
- DFP: Response to Committee Reports;
Agreed: that the departmental response will be included in the Committee’s legacy report
- DFP: Banking Issues Response;
Agreed : to copy the response to the Churches group and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; and to include the correspondence in the evidence base for the Committee’s co-ordinated report on the draft Budget 2011-2015.
- DFP: Accommodation Efficiencies;
- DFP: Child Poverty Strategy; and
- PMS Savers Lobby Group NI & ROI: Presbyterian Mutual Society in Administration since 17 November 2008.
Agreed: to include the correspondence in the evidence base for the Committee’s co-ordinated report on the draft Budget 2011-2015.
The Committee also noted that the following routine correspondence had been emailed to members prior to the meeting:
- Reply from DFP to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding missing NICS artwork; and
- Committee for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister: Draft Sustainable Development Implementation Plan .
The Committee agreed to take agenda item 12 next.
9. Committee Work Programme
Members considered a draft of the Committee work programme and noted that it will be necessary to hold a longer meeting on 2 February 2011 in the Senate Chamber.
Agreed: that the work programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
The Committee agreed to take agenda items 9 and 10 next.
10. Draft Budget 2011-2015: Strategic issues – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Mr Michael Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group (CFG) and Mr Jeff McGuinness, Central Expenditure Division, CFG.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 12.39pm
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.45pm
Ms Purvis returned to the meeting at 12.49pm
Agreed: that the officials will provide further information as requested by the Committee.
11. Budget Bill 2011 – Spring Supplementary Estimates and Vote on Account – DFP Evidence Session
The Committee took evidence from Mr Michael Brennan, Head of Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group (CFG), DFP andMsAgnes Lennon, Central Expenditure Division, CFG, DFP.
Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel is satisfied that there has been appropriate consultation with it on the public expenditure proposals contained in the Budget Bill NI 2011-15 and is content to grant accelerated passage to the Bill in accordance with Standing Order 42.2
Agreed: a letter to advise the Speaker of the Committee’s decision on granting accelerated passage to the Budget Bill 2011.
The Committee moved into closed session at 1.05pm
12. Draft Budget 2011-2015 – Consideration of initial working draft report
The Committee considered a proposed structure for the Committees report on Draft Budget 2011-2015; and a draft Committee response to the DFP draft spending and savings plans for 2011-2015.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 1.08pm
Agreed: that the secretariat will take account of members’ comments in preparing a draft of the report for consideration next week.
13 Any Other Business
14. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th February 2011 at 10.00am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting ended at 1.11pm.
Daithí McKay, Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
9 February 2011
26 January 11 / Menu
