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COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL

PRESS RELEASE

14 October 2009

FP01/09/10

ASSEMBLY FINANCE COMMITTEE EXAMINES SOCIAL ECONOMY

Social economy initiatives have a vital role to play in building sustainable communities. That’s the message from the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Finance and Personnel Committee as they visit Bryson Recycling as part of their ongoing inquiry into public procurement policy and practice in Northern Ireland.

The visit to the recycling facility at Mallusk is to take place after a visit by the Committee to Bryson House where the Committee will be holding one of its regular meetings. Members of the Committee will take evidence from the Social Economy Network and Bryson representatives on the experience of Social Economy Enterprises in the public procurement process.

Committee Chairperson, Jennifer McCann, MLA said, ‘The Committee is pleased to have an opportunity to focus on the social economy during the meeting and visit to Bryson Recycling.

“Organisations such as these have a vital role to play in building sustainable communities economically, socially and environmentally. This is why the Committee is using its ongoing inquiry to actively consider ways of improving access for Social Economy Enterprises, such as this one, to public procurement opportunities.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors
  1. The Committee for Finance and Personnel is one of 11 Statutory Committees of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which are set up to advise and assist each Northern Ireland Minister in the formulation of policy with respect to matters within his/her responsibilities as a Minister.  Statutory Committees have powers as described in Strand One of the Belfast Agreement i.e. a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the department with which each is associated, together with a role in the initiation of legislation.
  2. As per paragraph 9 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement, Statutory Committees have the power to:
    • consider and advise on departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
    • approve relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of relevant primary legislation;
    • call for persons and papers;
    • initiate inquiries and make reports; and,
    • consider and advise on matters brought to the Committee by its Minister.
  3. Committee Members:

Jennifer McCann (Chairperson) (Sinn Fein)
Peter Weir (Deputy Chairperson) (DUP)
Dr Stephen Farry (Alliance)
Simon Hamilton (DUP)
Fra McCann (Sinn Fein)
Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Fein)
David McNarry (UUP)
Adrian McQuillan (DUP)
Declan O’Loan (SDLP)
Ian Paisley Jnr (DUP)
Dawn Purvis (PUP)

  1. The terms of reference for the Committee Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice can be found here
  2. Further information on the work of the Committee is available on the Committee pages of the Northern Ireland Assembly website: archive.niassembly.gov.uk

Media enquiries should be addressed to:

Debra Savage,
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Telephone 028 9052 1405
Mobile : 07920 864221
Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk