Minutes of Proceedings

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

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 17 th October 2007

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising

The Chairperson raised the issue of an invitation from the Institute of Directors, Northern Ireland Division, to attend a discussion/briefing session on issues relating to the economy and business. Ms Anna Lo indicated her intention to attend.

The Committee Clerk updated the Committee on procedures following the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s Report on Springvale Educational Village.

3.    Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a letter from the Minister updating the Committee on developments in relation to the Further Education Lecturers’ Pay Dispute.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson write to the Minister thanking him for informing the Committee on progress on the pay negotiations.

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

Agreed: Members agreed that the Deputy Chairperson attend the WorldSkills event in November on behalf of the Committee.

Agreed: Members agreed that the correspondence received from The Donnelly Group in relation to Training for Success be forwarded to the Department and that the Chairperson write to the Donnelly Group expressing the Committee’s concerns on the issue.

The Chairperson briefed Members on an out-of-committee meeting with the Organisation for the Unemployed: Northern Ireland (OUNI) held on 24 th October.

10:43am Mr McCrea joined the meeting
10:46am Mr Butler joined the meeting

4.    Session from the Education and Training Inspectorate

The Committee received evidence from Education and Training Inspectorate representatives Marion Matchett, Chief Inspector, Paul McAlister, Assistant Chief Inspector, Gerry Murray and John Baird, Managing Inspectors, on the overall work of the Inspectorate with particular reference of the Committee’s programme for the monitoring of Training for Success. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11:22am Mr Butler left the meeting
11:42am Mr Newton left the meeting
11:42am Mr Butler returned to the meeting
12:01pm Mr McCausland left the meeting

5.    Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a Departmental press notice issued on 12 th October 2007.

6.    Any Other Business

Agreed: Members agreed that a number of providers of Training for Success be invited to out-of-committee meetings to brief Members on their programmes and approach to training provision. Those to be invited include the Electrical Training Trust and PMST.

Agreed: Members agreed to a joint presentation with the Education Committee on 16 th November relating to the “Careers education, information, advice and guidance strategy for NI” consultation document.

Agreed: Members were briefed on, and agreed to, proposals from the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group to publish research papers provided to the Committee from Assembly Research Services.

Members were also briefed on the draft budget process.

7.    Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 7 th November 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:19pm.

Mr Jimmy Spratt
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
7 November 2007