Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10:31am in closed session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 5th March 2008

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising

Agreed: Members discussed and agreed, subject to amendment, responses to the Department’s Draft Corporate Plan; the “Research Excellence Framework – funding of Higher Education Research 2008”; and the consultation: “A Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance Strategy for Northern Ireland”.

10:35am Mr Butler joined the meeting

3.    Ministerial Briefing on teacher training / education

The Committee received a briefing from the Minister for Employment and Learning and Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division, on teacher training and education. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11:12am Mr McClarty left the meeting
11:50am Mr Attwood left the meeting
11:53am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting
11:54am Mr Butler left the meeting

11:56am The meeting moved into public session

11:56am The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair

4.    Departmental Consultations

The Committee received briefings from Departmental Officials Bernie O’Hare, Director of Further Education Division, and Daryl Young, Head of FE Programmes Branch, on the Department’s “ Further Education Curriculum Consultation – Summary of Responses” and Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division, on the “Review of Higher Education in Further Education policies, including Foundation degrees – Consultation Summary February 2008”. The briefings were followed by question and answer sessions.

12:23pm The Chairperson resumed the Chair

5.    Departmental briefing on Migrant Workers Strategy

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental Officials: David McAuley, Director of Strategy & Employment Relations Division, Jim Walker, Migrant Workers Branch of Strategy & Employment Relations Division, and Dave Rodgers, Head of Research and Evaluation Branch, on the Department’s Migrant Worker Strategy. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

6.    Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed the proposed responses.
The Chairperson updated Members on a meeting with the Comptroller and Auditor General held on 6 th March.

7.    Subordinate Legislation

Members noted and were content with the following items of subordinate legislation:

• The Certification Officer (Fees) Regulations (NI) 2008
• Education (Students Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008

Agreed: Members noted and agreed a response to the Committee for Social Development on a proposed Statutory Rule entitled “Social Security (Work-Focused Interviews for Partners) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.”

8.    Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.

9.    Any Other Business

No other items of business were raised.

12:43pm Ms Lo left the meeting

10.    Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19 th March 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:44pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
19 March 2008