COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
EIGHTY FIRST MEETING
TUESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Maurice Morrow
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance:
Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Sheila Mc Clelland (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Shauna Mc Daid (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Deputy Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.47 p.m. The meeting began in closed session.
1. Chairman's business
1.1. The Committee received a briefing on the management arrangements for European Funds in Northern Ireland.
1.2. The Principal Clerk distributed the Review of Civil Service Accommodation Interim Report to the Committee and emphasised that the Report was confidential until such times as agreed with the Department of Finance and Personnel.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 2.50 p.m.
The Deputy Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at.3.17 p.m.
2. Apologies.
2.1. Mr Francie Molloy.
3. Minutes of Proceedings
3.1. The Committee considered and agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 5 February 2002.
3.2. Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 5 February 2002.
4. Matters arising
4.1. The Committee noted its letter to the Department regarding the draft Bill of Rights.
4.2. The Committee noted the letter to the Department regarding action taken to centralise administration functions of Local Strategy Partnerships.
4.3. The Committee noted the amended detailed note of its meeting with officials from Land Registers of Northern Ireland.
4.4. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister regarding its response on the Review of Public Procurement.
4.5. The Committee noted its letter to the Minister regarding the Spring Supplementary Estimates and Vote on Account.
4.6. The Committee noted the Chairman's speaking note on the Supply Resolutions.
4.7. The Committee noted its letter to the Minister regarding Aggregates Tax.
Mr Morrow and Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 3.28 p.m. The meeting was suspended at 3.28 p.m. and resumed at 3.49 p.m. Ms Lewsley and Mr Weir attended the meeting at 3.49 p.m.
5. Mangement of European Funding Inquiry
5.1. Departmental officials Mr Bill Pauley, Mrs Catherine Daly and Mrs Nuala Kerr attended and gave evidence to the Committee by way of a presentation on the aims, context, history, management structures, funds and allocations from the European Union to Northern Ireland.
5.2. The officials answered questions from the Committee and agreed to return to present further evidence to the Committee.
6. Committee Visits
6.1. The Clerk briefed the Committee on proposed visits by the Committee to Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. Committee members agreed to provide details of availability to the Clerk.
Mr Morrow returned to the meeting at 4.25 p.m. Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 4.25 p.m.
7. Correspondence.
7.1. The Committee noted press articles relating to Civil Service Recruitment and to stress related absences.
7.2. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister on the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.
7.3. The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee of the Centre regarding the Framework for developing Northern Ireland's participation in the European Union.
7.4. The Committee noted the letter and press release from the Department regarding the publication of the Mental Health Bulletin from the 2001 Northern Ireland Health and Social Wellbeing Survey.
7.5. The Committee noted the letter from the Department regarding the publication of the 1999 European Regional Gross Domestic Product Estimates.
7.6. The Committee noted the press article in relation to the Review of Rating Policy.
8. Any Other Business.
8.1 The Committee noted its programme of forthcoming business.
9. Next Meeting
9.1 The next meeting of the Committee was agreed as Tuesday 19 February 2002.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.26 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman