Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr N Dodds
Mr D Hussey
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Peter Weir

Apologies: Mr Peter Robinson MP

In attendance:Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Edel Gillen (Executive Support)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)

The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.51 p.m. The meeting was held in open session.

1. Minutes of Proceedings

1.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 22 and 26 February 2001.

2. Matters arising

2.1. PFI/PPP

2.1.1. The Clerk briefed the Committee on his discussions with the prospective specialist adviser and confirmed that he would attend the Committee's next meeting.

3. Defective Premises (Landlords' Liability Bill)

3.1. Ms Ethne Harkness, Law Reform Advisory Committee (LRAC) briefed the Committee on the considerations made by LRAC in relation to Clause 3 of the Bill on Restricted and Regulated Premises.

Mr Hussey left the meeting at 3.04 p.m.

3.2. The Committee deliberated.

Resolved: That the Clerk write to the Department to seek clarification on landlords' duties in Clause 1(2). That the Clerk express the Committee's concerns on the excluded tenancies in Clause 3(1) and 3(2) and ask for expansion on the argument that led to their exclusion and the assumption of an onerous duty on those landlords. That the Clerk ask for a view from the Department that the lack of obligation on private landlords to make repairs may make it unlikely that they will be carried out. That the Office of Law Reform (OLR) is asked to comment on the potential effects of the Draft Bill in relation to financial implications, Targeting Social Need, Equal Opportunities and Human Rights.

4. DFP Equality Scheme

4.1. Ms Adrienne Brown and Mr Stephen Orr, Department of Finance and Personnel briefed the Committee on the Department's Equality Scheme.

5. Any other business

5.1. The Committee deferred discussion of their Draft Business Programme until the next meeting

6. Date of next meeting

7.1 The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 6 March 2001.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 3.50 p.m.