COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Marie Austin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Neil Currie (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
The meeting opened at 11.14am in public session
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2007
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters Arising
The Deputy Chairperson informed Members that Mr Burns and Mr McCann had confirmed that they wished to attend the seminar on the effective provision of affordable and sustainable housing, to be held in Sheffield on 9 November 2007.
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Proposed Statutory Rule
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rule:
The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (EEA States) Regulations (NI) 2007.
Agreed – The Committee was content with the Department’s proposal to make the Statutory Rule.
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Proposal to remove the requirement to hold a licence to kill or deal in game – Review of the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985
The Committee considered the Department of the Environment’s draft consultation document on the Review of the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985. The document included the Minister for Social Development’s proposal to abolish the existing game licensing system in Northern Ireland.
Agreed – The Committee was content for the Department of the Environment to consult on the Minister’s proposal but agreed to consider the matter further when the result of the public consultation was known.
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Briefing on the proposed Pensions Bill
The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the Meeting at 11.20am:
John O’Neill – Director, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division
Gerry McCann – Social Security Policy and Legislation Division
The officials briefed the Committee on the purpose and main provisions of the proposed Pensions Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11.41am.
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Correspondence
7.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Social Security Advisory Committee. The Chairperson of the Committee, Sir Richard Tilt, wished to meet with Members of the Social Development Committee on 29 October 2007 to discuss issues of mutual interest or concern. The Deputy Chairperson requested that any Members available to meet with Sir Richard Tilt should contact the Clerk by Monday
22 October 2007.7.2 The Committee considered a request for the Chairperson to meet the newly appointed Chief Executive of the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade, in relation to the Liquor Licensing Review.
Agreed – The Committee was content for the Chairperson to meet the Chief Executive at some time in the future when the Committee was considering the proposed Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill.
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Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
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Any other business
Mr McCann proposed that the Committee visit some examples of mixed tenure housing developments in the Republic of Ireland to inform its consideration of the Semple Report recommendations.
Agreed – It was agreed that the Clerk should investigate this proposal and to consider the matter further at a future meeting.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Social Development will be held on Thursday, 11 October 2007 at 11.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.47am.
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
11 October 2007