Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2008/2009
Date: 04 February 2009
Venue: Room 135
The meeting opened at 10:03am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 28th January 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) on the Committee’s Inquiry into the way forward for apprenticeships
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB): Allan McMullen, Chief Executive, and Tony Doran OBE, Chairman, on the Committee’s Inquiry into the way forward for apprenticeships. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
10:40am Mr Attwood joined the meeting
10:41am Mr Easton left the meeting
10:48am Mr Easton returned to the meeting
3. Committee visit to North Carolina / Boston / Washington
The Committee noted initial arrangements for the proposed Committee visit to North Carolina, Boston and Washington
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee receive a briefing from Departmental Officials on the proposed schedule for the event.
4. Matter Arising
11:13am Mr Hilditch left the meeting
11:25am Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting
- Draft Social Economy Enterprise (SEE) Strategy
Agreed: Members noted and agreed the Committee’s response to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Social Enterprise Strategy. - Update on debate on Teacher Education report
Agreed: Members discussed the Assembly debate on its Report on the Review of Teacher Education and agreed that the matter be raised at the Committee’s meeting on 18 th February. - Correspondence from the Education Committee
Members noted correspondence from the Education Committee relating to the Committee’s Report on the Review of Teacher Education and on the eligibility of teachers trained in Northern Ireland to teach in the Irish Republic.
Agreed: Members agreed that a meeting be requested with the Minister, in closed session, to discuss the report’s recommendations.
- DWP White Paper - Raising expectations and increasing support: Reforming welfarefor the future
Members noted the White Paper from the Department for Work and Pensions entitled “Raising expectations and increasing support: Reforming welfare for the future”. - Research paper on the Bombardier Aerospace apprenticeship programme
Members noted a paper from Assembly Research Services on the apprenticeship programme at Bombardier Aerospace. - University of Ulster’s Development Strategy
Members noted a media note from the University of Ulster on its future strategic development plans. Members also noted that a briefing from the Vice-Chancellor on this issue is scheduled for 11 th February.
5. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
6. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a Departmental press notice issued on 22 nd January 2009.
7. Any Other Business
- Forward Work Programme
Members noted the revised Forward Work Programme for the Committee. - Press article - “Redundancy lecturers re-employed”
Agreed: Members noted a recent press article, published by the BBC, on the issue of lecturers that have received redundancy packages returning to teaching. Members agreed that this issue should be raised at the Committee’s meeting on 18 th February. - Assembly Question 4243/09
Agreed: Members noted the response to a recent Assembly Question from Mr Newton to the Minister on the issue of apprentice redundancies and agreed that clarification be sought on the details provided. - Written Evidence – Inquiry into Obesity
Agreed: Members noted a Departmental response to the Health Committee’s Inquiry into Obesity and agreed that it be forwarded to the Health Committee. - Correspondence from Citizens Advice
Members noted correspondence from Citizens Advice on the increase in the number of inquiries related to redundancy that it is receiving. - Correspondence from the Minister
Members noted correspondence from the Minister, dated 29 th January, regarding the independent review of variable tuition fees. - NICS Recruitment
Members noted correspondence from the Finance and Personnel Committee relating to “degreeism” and the recruitment policies in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. - Post Project Evaluations (PPEs)
Members noted information requested from the Finance & Personnel Committee on its evidence session of 21 st January with the Department of Finance and Personnel on the issue of PPEs. - Inquiry into the funding of the arts in Northern Ireland
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee to the Minister for Employment and Learning on its inquiry into funding for the arts in Northern Ireland and agreed that it be forwarded to the Minister. - Executive’s Response to the Barroso Taskforce Report
Agreed: Members noted the Executive’s Response to the Barroso Taskforce Report, dated 22 nd January, and agreed that a draft response to the OFMdFM Committee be considered at the Committee’s meeting on 18 th February.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 11 th February 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:45am.
