Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.34am in public session.

Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 16th May 2007 and Matters Arising.

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed subject to amendment of Members’ Declaration of Interests.

Members noted that there would be a Motion in the Assembly on the 29th May 2007 seeking the appointment of Mr Alastair Ross MLA to the Committee, replacing Mr Jim Wells MLA.

Members noted a paper received from the Minister, Sir Reg Empey, on his meeting with representatives of the lecturers unions and FE colleges on 17th May 2007.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Minister requesting that updates be provided to the Committee, as negotiations on the pay dispute progress.

At the meeting on 16th May the Permanent Secretary, Dr Aideen McGinley, agreed to provide the Committee with an update on progress regarding the implementation of the previous Committee’s “Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry”. Members noted the detailed briefing paper provided to the Committee.

Mr McCrea provided further details on the forthcoming event highlighting the important work of the charitable organisation “Learn and Grow” in Parliament Buildings on the 24th May 2007.

2. The Legislative Process in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

10.40am Mr Nelson McCausland joined the meeting

The Committee received a briefing from Mr Kevin Shiels, Clerk of Bills, on primary legislation and the Committee’s role in considering legislation.

3. Chairperson’s Business (Correspondences and Attendances).

Member noted correspondence from Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) introducing the organisation and offering briefing support to the Committee on relevant issues, and a letter from the Chairperson to Queen’s University of Belfast offering congratulations to the university on its admission to the Russell Group of Universities.

The Chairperson briefed Members on a meeting she and the Deputy Chairperson had held with the Registrar and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University. The university representatives had agreed to provide the Chairperson with a major policy paper highlighting key issues including: post-graduate student numbers; relationships with SMEs; all-island networks; and higher and further education working with industry.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the relationship between the Department and the two universities was an area of interest. The Committee agreed to plan for a visit to Queen’s University as part of its future work programme. It was also agreed that a visit to the University of Ulster should be explored.

4. Discussion on Committee Work Programme.

Members noted a number of supporting papers and discussed interest areas and issues that should be taken forward by the Committee. The Committee agreed a number of broad themes for initial investigation and study.

hese are:

• Research and development;
• Further education, training and skills;
• Numeracy and literacy issues;
• Pathways to work (Welfare Reform); and
• European Social Fund.

11.26am Mr McClarty left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Minister on areas to be explored in the future work programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Minister seeking clarification on how the Department for Employment and Learning will be working with the Department of Education to ensure a joined-up approach to tackling numeracy and literacy issues.

11.43am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting

5. Any Other business.

No other matters were raised.

6. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 30th May 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.52am.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning.
30 May 2007.