COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
FIFTY SECOND MEETING
TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2001
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Nigel Dodds
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir
Apologies:
In attendence: Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Ms Edel Gillen (Executive Support)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.39 p.m. The meeting was held in public session
Mr Nigel Dodds attended from 2.40 p.m. Mr Derek Hussey attended from 2.50 p.m. Mr Alex Attwood attended from 2.45 p.m.
1. Minutes of Proceedings
1.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 03 April 2001 and 23 April 2001.
2. Matters arising
2.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister on Monitoring and Measurement of New TSN and the letter from the Department of Finance and Personnel on Executive Programme Funds.
3. PPP Inquiry
3.1 Peter Hughes, Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on the forthcoming visits to Dublin, Leeds and London. It was emphasised that a quorum would be required for each visit. The Committee agreed and noted the schedule of the visits.
Alex Attwood arrived at 2.45p.m.
Mr Derek Hussey arrived at 2.50p.m.
4. Committee Programme
4.1 Mr David Ferguson and Mr Richard Pengelly from the Department of Finance and Personnel briefed the Committee on the forthcoming items of Business for the period April to July 2001.
4.2 Resolved : The Department would provide a revised Business Programme for the next Committee meeting.
Mr Alex Maskey left at 3.25p.m.
Mr Alex Attwood, Mr Nigel Dodds and Mr Billy Bell left at 3.35p.m.
5. Product Liability (Amendment) Bill
5.1 Mr Neil Lambe and Mr Michael Foster, Office of Law Reform and Mr David Ferguson from the Department of Finance and Personnel briefed the Committee on the Bill.
5.2 The Committee deliberated.
5.3 Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Committee Stage of the Bill should not be dealt with by this Committee. The Committee proposed and agreed that the Chairman should write to Mr Pat Doherty, Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and also write to the Minister, Mr Mark Durkan.
6. Trustee Bill
6.1 The Committee was given advice by an Assembly Legal adviser on the concerns raised by Mr Bryce Dickson, Chief Commisioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commision.
6.2 Members concluded that concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission had been adequately dealt with by the Bill and that no changes were required to paragraph 7 of Schedule 1. The Committee agreed to commence the Clause by Clause scrutiny at the next meeting. The Committee also sought an extension to the Committee stage of the Bill.
6.3 Resolved : The Committee agreed that a motion should be put forward seeking an extension of the Committee Stage of the Bill to 22 June 2001
7. Family Law Bill
7.1 The Committee noted the textual change to Clause 1 of the Family Law Bill.
8. Impact of FMD restrictions on NI businesses
8.1 Members noted the joint motion for business affected by the Foot and Mouth Disease.
Mr Alex Maskey returned at 4.15p.m.
Mr Hussey left at 4.20p.m.
9. Correspondence
9.1 Members noted the letter from the Regional Development Committee on the launch of Inquiry into Belfast Harbour Commissioners' Titanic Quarter Leases; letter from Minister re Concordat on Public Procurement; letter to Women's Resource & Development Agency re gap funding; letter from Mr G Campbell to Mr A Magennis on Executive Programme Funds.
10. Date of next meeting
10.1 The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 01 May 2001.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.32 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman