Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10:35am in public session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2008

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

Members noted an organisation chart of the Learning & Skills Development Agency Northern Ireland (LSDANI).

10:37am Mr McCausland joined the meeting
10:38am Mr Spratt joined the meeting

3. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed the proposed responses.

Agreed: The Chairperson updated Members on a meeting on 23rd January with the East Belfast Community Education Centre. The Committee agreed that the Chairperson request a meeting with the Minister on a number of general issues concerning adult and community education.

4. Briefing from the Construction Employers Federation on Training for Success

The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Ciarán Fox, Federation Manager, and John Armstrong, Managing Director, on the early stages of the Department’s Training for Success Programme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11:01am Mr Newton left the meeting
11:25am Mr McCausland left the meeting
11:31am Mr McCrea joined the meeting
11:38am Mr Spratt left the meeting

5. Departmental briefing on ‘Research Excellence Framework – funding of Higher Education Research Post-2008’

The Committee received an initial briefing from Departmental Officials Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education Division and Dr Linda Bradley, Higher Education Research Policy, on the consultation “Research Excellence Framework – funding of higher education research post-2008.” The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

6. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee noted the following Statutory Rule and the report of the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules:

• Transfer of Undertakings and Service Provision Change (Protection of Employment) (Consequential Amendments etc.) Regulations (NI) 2007 (SR 2007/494)

The Committee raised no objection to the Rule.

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Transfer of Undertakings and Service Provision Change (Protection of Employment) (Consequential Amendments etc.) Regulations (NI) 2007 (SR 2007/494) and has no objection to the rule.”

7. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.

8. Any Other Business

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson agree the response to the budget debate on behalf of the Committee. Members also agreed that any issues or concerns, for inclusion in the response, should be forward to the Committee Office.

Agreed: Members noted and agreed that correspondence from the Education Committee be forwarded to the Department.

Members noted a press release, issued by the Department on 22 January 2008, relating to the Department’s confirmed budget allocation.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 30th January 2008 at 10.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:06pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
30 January 2008