Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Nigel Dodds
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Peter Robinson MP
Mr Peter Weir

Apologies: Ms Patricia Lewsley

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 2.50 p.m. This session was held in public.

1. Minutes of Proceedings

1.1. Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 20 March 2001.

2. Matters arising

2.1. The Committee noted letters in response to the Regional Development Committee on the draft Regional Development Strategy; to the Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee on the Strategy 2010 Inquiry Report; a response to the Minister on February Monitoring; and a request to the Department asking for more information on the New TSN.

3. Defective Premises (Landlord's Liability) Bill - NIA 5/00

3.1.Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Evidence by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (Northern Ireland Centre) dated 30 January 2001. The Minutes of Evidence by the Housing Rights Service dated 30 January 2001. The Minutes of Evidence by the Office of Law Reform dated 6 March 2001. The Minutes of Evidence by the Office of Law Reform dated 13 March 2001.

Mr P Robinson attended the meeting at 2.56 p.m. Mr P Weir attended the meeting at 2.57 p.m.

4. EU Funds - Building Sustainable Prosperity / Peace and Reconciliation in NI (Peace II)

4.1. The Committee received a briefing and questioned Department of Finance and Personnel officials, Dr Andrew Mc Cormick, Mr Leo O'Reilly Mrs Catherine Daly and Ms Nuala Kerr.

4.2. The Committee deliberated.

4.3. Resolved: That the Committee request further details of the arrangements for attracting applications for Peace II funding from groups who had not previously applied under Peace I.

4.4. Resolved That the Committee request a paper from the Department of Finance and Personnel about the lessons learned on sustainability by the projects funded under Peace I and how those lessons would be incorporated into the criteria for judging and monitoring projects under Peace II.

5. Executive Programme Funds

DFP Bids

5.1. The Committee received briefing on the Department of Finance and Personnel bids from Departmental officials, Mr Michael Daly, Mr David Trelford, Mr Edgar Jardine and Mr George King.

5.2. Resolved: That the Committee supported the Department's bids and was content with the priorities attached to the bids.

Mr Dodds attended the meeting at 3.56 p.m.Mr Robinson left the meeting at 4.18 p.m, Mr Hussey left the meeting at 4.24 p.m.

Overall bids

5.3. The Committee received briefing and questioned DFP officials, Dr Andrew Mc Cormick and Mr Victor Hewitt, on the process for preparation of bids by all NI Departments. The Committee expressed serious concerns about the absence of an agreed process for handling bids by Departments and Committees, the inadequate presentation of documentation and the lack of detailed information on the selection criteria to be used.

5.4. Resolved: That owing to the lack of notice the Committee was unable to take a considered view on the bids and allocations from the Executive Programme Funds.

5.5. Resolved: That the Chairman write to the Minister expressing its dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation and briefing by the Department to allow timely scrutiny of the bids.

5.6. Resolved: That the Committee write to the Assembly Statutory Committees to advise them of the Committee's dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation and briefing by the Department of Finance and Personnel to allow scrutiny of the bids.

6. Family Law Bill - (NIA 4/00)

6.1. The Committee considered a foreword prepared by the Principal Clerk to be sent to the HSS & PS Committee for inclusion in the Report to the Assembly on the Family Law Bill (NIA 4/00).

6.2.Resolved: That the Committee agreed to the foreword prepared by the Principal Clerk.

7. PPP Inquiry

7.1. The Committee considered an indicative timetable for the Inquiry including proposals for visits to take evidence. Members concluded that the time table would require revision should a General Election be scheduled for early May.

8. Correspondence

8.1. None.

9. Any other business

9.1. None.

10. Date of next meeting

10.1. The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday, 3 April 2001.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.10 p.m.

FRANCIE MOLLOY
Chairman