Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Donovan McClelland

Apologies: No apologies were made.

In attendence: Mr Martin Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)

1.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 17 October 2000.

2.1 The Committee deliberated a paper from The Department of Finance and Personnel on its Budget and on a motion to the Assembly calling for a Substantive Debate on the 2001/02 draft Budget for 13 October.

2.2 Resolved: That the DFP Budget paper be considered at a later date and that the motion be adopted.

3.1 The Committee deliberated on the Ground Rents Bill. Ms Judena Goldring and Mr Neil Lambe, Office of Law Reform appeared before the Committee and answered questions on the Bill.

3.2 The Committee deliberated on the Ground Rents Bill:

That Clauses 1 to 5 stand part of the Bill.

That Clause 6 be agreed at a later date when the proposed arrangements for a streamlined procedure for the disposal of money when the identity of the rent owner is know and the rent payer has served notice would be re-considered.

That Clauses 7 to 14 stand part of the Bill.

That Clause 15 be agreed at a later date when amendments proposed by the Office of Law Reform would be considered.

That Clause 16 be agreed at a later date when the interpretation of "neighbours" and the restrictions on covenants would be re-considered.

That Clause 17 be agreed at a later date when points raised by the Committee and amendments proposed by the Office of Law Reform would be considered.

That Clauses 18 to 33 stand part of the Bill.

That Schedules 1 to 3 be considered at a later date.

That the Office of Law Reform be called before the Committee to answer questions on the Bill.

4.1 The Committee deliberated on the appointment of a specialist adviser to assist the Committee Stage of the Government Resources and Accounts Bill (NIA Bill 6/00).

4.2 Resolved: That the need for a specialist adviser would be re-considered at a later date.

5.1 The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday, 7 November at 2.00 p.m. to continue consideration of the DFP Budget, the Programme for Government and scrutiny of the Ground Rents Bill.