COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chariperson)
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan 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 Daithí McKay MLA (Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 10.14am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above .
Agreed: that the evidence sessions at Agenda items 4 and 5 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Reports published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 16 February 2011
Agreed: that the minutes are published on the Assembly website.
3. 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: Review of Financial Process in Northern Ireland – Terms of Reference
The Committee noted correspondence from DFP outlining the Terms of Reference for the Review of the Financial Process in Northern Ireland.
COFMDFM: Public Bodies Bill – Legislative Consent Motion
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (COFMDFM) on the Legislative Consent Motion for the Public Bodies Bill.
DFP: Civil Registration Bill – Response to Committee Query
Agreed: members were content with the response from DFP to queries raised during last week’s evidence session on the Department’s proposed amendments to the Civil Registration Bill.
DFP: The Draft Rates (Housing Executive) Order (NI) 2011
Agreed: members were content with the response from DFP to queries raised with regard to the proposed Statutory Rule to reduce the landlords’ allowance for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Associations.
Agreed: That the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered DFP’s proposal for subordinate legislation under The draft Rates (Housing Executive) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill
Agreed: members agreed to issue the Committee’s report on the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill to all the stakeholders who provided written and/or oral evidence to the Committee.
4. Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill
Members took evidence from Ms Oonagh McClure, ThompsonsMcClure Solicitors and heard personal testimonies from Mr Hugh Campbell, Mr James Armour and Mr William McAvoy, individuals diagnosed with pleural plaques. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The witnesses were advised that, while their evidence can no longer be used to inform a “Committee position” on the Bill (because the Committee will not now be reporting on the Bill due to insufficient time), the information provided today will be made publicly available to inform the wider Assembly in its consideration of the subsequent legislative stages of the Bill.
5. Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill
The Committee took evidence from Dr Allan Henderson, Consultant Physician, Lorn & Islands District General Hospital, Scotland.
The witness were advised that, while their evidence can no longer be used to inform a “Committee position” on the Bill (because the Committee will not now be reporting on the Bill due to insufficient time), the information provided today will be made publicly available to inform the wider Assembly in its consideration of the subsequent legislative stages of the Bill. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: to follow up on a DFP response to a previous Committee query on the establishment of a formal register of persons with pleural plaques.
6. Process for Agreeing Budgets of Legislatures – Assembly Research Briefing
Members received a briefing from Assembly Research on the Process for Agreeing the Budgets of Legislatures, wh ich will inform the Committee’s forthcoming Third Report on the Budget Scrutiny Inquiry.
Mr. O’Loan left the meeting at 11.30am.
Mr. O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.35am
7. Correspondence
The following items of correspondence were noted:
- Committee for the Environment: Cross-Departmental Plan on Greenhouse Gas Emissions;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP.
- COFMDFM: European Engagement;
Agreed: that the Committee will not be making a response on this matter.
- DFP: Implementation of Equality Scheme;
- Committee for Employment and Learning: Skills, Training and Re-investment (STAR) Scheme;
- DFP: Update on Minister’s Engagement with NAMA;
- DFP Press Release: “ Rating of empty homes a step closer”;
- DFP Press Release: “Almost 9,000 Draft Budget consultation responses being published”.
The Committee also noted the following routine correspondence which had been emailed to Members prior to the meeting:
- Response from DFP to the OFMDFM Committee’s request for a briefing on the number of small and medium-sized enterprises invited to tender for government contracts; and
- DFP: Memoranda on the Third Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2010-2011: Administration and Management of the Disability Living Allowance Reconsideration and Appeals Process.
8. Committee Work Programme
Members considered a draft of the Committee work programme.
Agreed: that the work programme is amended to reflect any decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
9. Any Other Business
Cost of Insurance in NI
Members discussed issues of concern around the cost of insurance in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Consumer Council and request an update on any further assessment which it has made or plans to make of the insurance market in Northern Ireland.
Executive’s Draft Budget Consultation Responses
Members discussed a DFP press release which indicated that a large number of consultation responses on the Draft Budget had been received by the Department.
Agreed: to seek assurance from DFP that the consultation responses will be taken into account and to request an update on when the Department’s report on the outcome of the consultation will be available to the Committee.
Agreed: to request the other statutory committees to provide copies of any reports on the departmental-level consultations received from their respective departments.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 1 March at 1.15pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting ended at 11.53am.
Daithí McKay, Chairperson
Committee for Finance and Personnel
01 March 2011
16 February 11 / Menu
