COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND MEETING
TUESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Maurice Morrow
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance: Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Shane Mc Ateer (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Shauna McDaid (Executive Support)
Mr Stephen Ball (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.14 p.m.
1. Apologies.
1.1 Alex Attwood
2. Minutes of Proceedings.
2.1 The Committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings for 3 September 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 3 September 2002.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 The Committee noted the letter from DEL and the Chairman of Education and Learning Committee regarding non-consultation on EPF bids.
3.2 The Committee considered the update on the performance in Land Registers.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to continue to monitor Land Register performance.
3.3 The Committee noted the press release regarding the Committee's Report on the Executive's Position Report (CFP 01/02).
3.4 The Committee noted the letter to the Department regarding the Registration of Deeds on Bequeathed Property or Cash Sales.
3.5 The Committee considered the draft letter from the Chairman to Statutory Committees regarding the Draft Budget 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the 4-week deadline in the draft letter from the Chairman to Statutory Committees regarding responses from Statutory Committees to the Draft Budget 2002.
4. Public Private Partnerships
4.1 Specialist adviser Mr John Plumb attended the meeting and presented a draft report in response to the Executive's consultation paper on Public Private Partnerships.
Mr Bell attended the meeting at 2.25pm
4.2 The Committee considered the specialist adviser's report on Public Private Partnerships.
Resolved: The Committee raised no objections in principle to the conclusions included in the report but suggested some presentational changes The Committee agreed to place amended report on the agenda for consideration and approval on 17 September for submission to the Minister by the deadline on the 17 September 2002. The Committee also agreed that it would be appropriate for the Chairman and members to contribute to the debate on a PPP motion tabled by OFM/DFM for 16 September.
5. Correspondence
5.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Association of Town Centre Management
regarding the Review of Rating Policy.
5.2 The Committee noted the submission from the Rural Development Council regarding the Review of Rating Policy.
5.3 The Committee noted the submission from the Valuation and Lands Agency regarding the Review of Rating Policy.
5.4 The Committee noted the submission from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive regarding the Review of Rating Policy.
5.5 The Committee noted the revised version of the letter from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission regarding the Marriage Bill (NI).
5.6 The Committee noted the letter from the Law Advisory Committee regarding a discussion paper 'Unincorporated Associations'.
5.7 The Committee noted the letter from the NILGA regarding potential questions for SEUPB oral evidence session and the response from the Principal Clerk.
6. Any other Business
6.1 The Committee noted the Sessional Business Programme.
Mr Hussey attended the meeting at 2.48pm.
6.2 The Committee considered a proposal that a sub-committee should be established to take oral evidence on the Review of Rating Policy.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the proposal to elect a sub-committee for the Evidence sessions. The Chairman will act as Convenor to the sub-group, which will have a quorum of 3.
Mr Close attended the meeting at 2.57pm.
7. Marriage Bill - Evidence Session.
7.1 Representatives from the Church of Ireland, Rev. Canon R E Turner and Mr T N Wilson, attended the meeting and gave evidence and answered questions regarding the Marriage Bill.
7.2 Representatives from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev. Dr Samuel Hutchinson, Rev. Dr Russell Birney, Rev. Dr Donald Watts and Mr James W. Russell attended the meeting and gave evidence and answered questions regarding the Marriage Bill.
The meeting was suspended for a Division vote at 4.05pm. The meeting resumed at 4.24pm. Mr Morrow attended the meeting at 4.24pm.
7.3 Representatives from the Evangelical Alliance, Ms Heather Morrow, Christian Guidelines, Rev. Gary Haire, and CARE, Ms Alison Laird, attended the meeting and gave evidence and answered questions regarding the Marriage Bill.
Mr Hussey returned to the meeting at 5.09pm. Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 5.10pm.
8. Audit and Accountability Bill.
8.1 Departmental officials Mr David Thompson, Ms Claire Archbold and Mr Mark McNaughten attended the meeting and briefed the Committee regarding Audit and Accountability - Policy Memorandum and Bill. The officials answered questions from the Committee.
8.2 Mr Derek Hussey declared an interest as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr Roy Beggs declared an interest as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.
9. Date of next meeting.
9.1 The Committee noted that the Review of Rating Policy Evidence Session before the sub-committee was on Wednesday 11 September 2002 at 11.15am in the Senate Chamber.
9.2 The next Committee meeting was agreed as Tuesday 17 September 2002 at 2 p.m. in room 144.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.25pm.
Francie Molloy
Chairman