COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
FIFTY NINTH MEETING
TUESDAY, 19 JUNE 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 Derek Hussey
Mr Alex Maskey
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance: Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Mrs Margaret Miskelly (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
Mr Brendan O Neill (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.38 p.m. The meeting began in public session
1. Apologies
1.1. None
2. Minutes of Proceedings
2.1. Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 14 June 2001.
3. Minutes of Evidence
3.1. The Committee agreed the following sets of Minutes of Evidence made in relation to the Committee's Inquiry into the use of Public Private Partnerships;
26 April 2001 Department of Finance (Republic of Ireland)
26 April 2001 Department of Education and Science (Republic of Ireland)
Department of Finance (Republic of Ireland)
Department of Public Enterprise (Republic of Ireland)
26 April 2001 Department of Finance (Republic of Ireland)
Construction Industry Federation
Irish Business & Employers' Confederation
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
10 May 2001 Department for Social Development
10 May 2001 Confederation of British Industry
10 May 2001 Department of Finance and Personnel
17 May 2001 Barclays Bank
17 May 2001 Business Services Association
17 May 2001 Major Contractors Group
17 May 2001 Imperial College London
University College London
17 May 2001 Public Private Partnerships Programme (4Ps)
22 May 2001 Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA)
Mr Hussey attended the meeting at 2.41 p.m.
4. Matters arising
4.1.1. The Committee noted the Executive's Position Report in relation to the 2002/03 Budget.
4.1.2. Resolved: The Committee agreed to discuss DFP bids with Departmental officials at its meeting on Tuesday 26 June 2001.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to consider responses from other Departmental Committees and to issue a combined response to the Minister of Finance and Personnel.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to examine all Departmental bids to consider how they meet the Programme for Government and Public Service Agreements.
Mr Attwood attended at 2.45 p.m.
5. Statutory Rules
5.1. The Lands Tribunal (Salaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001. - Affirmative Resolution.
5.1.1. The Committee deliberated.
5.1.2. Resolved: That the Committee had considered the Lands Tribunal (Salaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and recommended that it be affirmed by the Assembly.
Ms Lewsley attended at 2.48 p.m.
5.2. The Land Registration - Compulsory Registration of Title Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 SR237/2001.
5.2.1. The Committee deliberated.
5.2.2.Resolved: That the Committee had considered the Lands Registration - Compulsory Registration of Title Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and would report the Statutory Rule to the Assembly without any further question being put.
6. Update on progress on implementation of EU Structural Funds Programmes 2000 2006
6.1. The Committee received briefing from and questioned Departmental officials, Mr Leo O'Reilly, Mrs Catherine Daly and Ms Nuala Kerr on the progress of the Programmes.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 2.29 p.m,
6.2. The Committee requested a formal written update from the officials.
7. Audit Reorganisation Bill and Sharman Report
7.1. The Committee received briefing from Departmental official Mr Brian Delaney accompanied by Mr Mark Mc Naughten on the background and progress of the work on the Audit Reorganisation Bill which took account of the Sharman Report.
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 3.27 p.m.
8. Single Equality Bill Consultation
8.1. The Committee was briefed by the Assembly Researcher on the issues on the Bill.
8.2. Resolved: That the Committee will consider a response to the Committee of the Centre at its meeting on Tuesday 26 June 2001.
Mr Bell left the meeting at 4.05 p.m. The public session of the meeting was closed.
9. Public Private Partnerships Inquiry
9.1. The Committee considered the first draft of its report as presented by the Clerk
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 4.44 p.m.
9.2. The Committee considered the draft report and agreed a number of changes to the text.
Resolved: That the Committee's specialist adviser attend the Committee's next consideration of the report on Thursday 21 June 2001.
10. Date of next meeting
10.1. The Committee agreed the next meeting as Thursday 21 June 2001.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.02p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman