THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2000 AT 2.00 PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman) Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson) Sir J Gorman Mr B Hutchinson Mr D McClarty Mr E ONeill Mr M Robinson Mr J Tierney Mr S Wilson
Apologies: Mr G Kelly
In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin Mr L Hart Ms V Surplus
1. Minute of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
- Copies of the Compact documents for England, Scotland and Wales have been made available for Members at today's meeting.
- The Department has provided the list of respondents to the consultation process leading to the NI Compact document, and Alun Michael's 'Building the future together' paper from March 1997.
3. Presentation by the Child Support Agency
Panel Members: Mr Gerry Keenan, Chief Executive Mr David Elwood, Resources Director Mr John Canavan, Operations Director
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.10 PM after which Mr Keenan gave a comprehensive presentation with accompanying slides, followed by a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked the panel for their presentation, and they left the meeting at 3.00 PM.
4. Presentation by the Minister on Street Trading
Panel Members: Mr Nigel Dodds, Minister for Social Development Dr Jeremy Harbison, Deputy Secretary Mr Gordon Gibson, Social Legislation Mr Ivan McMaster, Social Legislation
The Chairman welcomed the Minister and Departmental Officials to the meeting at 3.15 PM after which the Minister gave a brief presentation on the Departmental proposals for Street Trading legislation, followed by a question-and-answer session. Hansard will provide a verbatim transcript of this session.
5. Presentation on the Voluntary and Community Compact Document by the Minister
Additional Panel Members: Dr Jeremy Harbison, Deputy Secretary Mr Don Harley, Vol.Activity Development Branch Mrs Ann O'Keeffe, Vol. Activity Devpt. Branch
The Chairman welcomed the additional Departmental officials to the meeting at 3.50 PM after which the Minister gave a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex B.
The Minister explained that the Compact document had evolved from a UK-wide initiative in December 1998, which involved extensive consultation on the framework for the relationships between public bodies and the Community and Voluntary sector. These would then be underpinned by a set of principles against which they would be assessed, so clarifying roles and responsibilities.
The Minister explained that he wanted to hear the Committee's views on the broad principles before progressing to the minutiae of sectoral strategies, targets and good practice guidance, into which the Committee's input will be valued and welcomed.
Agreed: The Committee adopted the Compact document setting out the general principles that will underpin the future relationships between Government and the Community and Voluntary Sector in NI. The Committee further intends to involve itself fully in helping to shape the mechanics of the partnership's actual implementation on the ground.
The Chairman thanked the panel for their presentation, and they left the meeting at 4.10 PM.
6. Date of the Next Meeting
The Committee will meet next at 12.00 PM on Tuesday 8 February in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
