COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
NINTH MEETING
WEDNESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2000
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Members Present:
Mr Francie Molloy (Chair)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr William Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Gardiner Kane
Mr Donovan McCelland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.00 pm.
AGENDA
1. Apologies.1.1 . Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chair), Mr Oliver Gibson
2. Presentation2.1 Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
2.1.1. Mr Edgar Jardine, Chief Executive, Dr Norman Caven, Registrar General and Dr Gerry Mulligan appeared before the Committee to explain the role of NISRA and answer questions on the Government's proposals for improving public confidence in official statistics and NISRA's proposals for the 2001 Census. Members were particularly interested in the level of coverage of the Census, the range and type of questions to be asked about regional and national factors and audit arrangements.2.1.2. Agreed . NISRA agreed to provide advance detailed briefing to the Committee to facilitate consideration of the proposed Statutory Rule that the Department would issue to the Committee.
2.2. Office of Law Reform
2.2.1.Ms Judena Goldring, Director, and Mrs Heather Stevens, Senior Legal Assistant appeared before the Committee to explain the role and work programme of the Office of Law Reform, with particular reference to Northern Ireland Divorce Law reform.2.2.2. Agreed. Ms Goldring agreed to provide copies of the consultation documents on the issues currently before the Office of Law Reform to the Committee.
The Chairman closed the meeting to the public at 4.00 pm.
3. Agree Minutes of Proceedings.3.1. Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for the Committee meeting on Wednesday, 2 February 2000.
4. Minutes of Evidence 4.1. Members did not bring forward any amendments to the Minutes of Evidence given by the Confederation of British Industry (Northern Ireland) on 3 February and cleared the Minutes for printing. 5. Matters Arising.5.1. There were no matters arising.
6. Consider any Statutory Rules
6.1. No Statutory Rules were referred to the Committee.
7. Correspondence
7.1 General Exchequer Grant
7.1.1.Agreed The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister of Finance and Personnel following his letter of 8 February. The Committee asked that the Chief Executive, Rates Collection Agency appear before the Committee to clarify the over and under payments made by the Rates Collection Agency, why they were made and how the adjustments that would have to be made by District Councils would be implemented.
7.2. Derry City Airport
7.2.1.Agreed The Minister of Finance and Personnel wrote to the Chairman on 3 February on the additional funding being sought for Derry City Airport. The Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Minister to ask for an explanation of the steps being taken to ensure effective liaison between Departments whenever issues requiring additional funding were announced.
7.3. 2001 Census
7.3.1. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel offering to meet the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to discuss the 2001 Census.
8. Role of the Committee
8.1. Agreed. Members agreed to consider this item at a future meeting.
8.2. Any other business
8.3. Report on the Allowances to Members of the Assembly and Office Holders Bill (NIA 2/99). The Committee considered the implications for the Report arising from a problem identified in Standing Order 46 (9).
8.4. Agreed. The Committee agreed that the Report should stand, as printed.
9. Date of Next Meeting
9.1. Agreed: The next weekly meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Thursday, 10 February at 2.00 pm.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.05 pm.