Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.01am in public session

Members welcomed Mr Thomas Buchanan as Deputy Chairperson to the Committee.

Members extended their appreciation to Dr Aideen McGinley for her work with the Committee during her time as Permanent Secretary. Members also wished Catherine Bell well in her new role as Acting Permanent Secretary.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Declarations of Interest

Members noted declarations of interest from Mr Buchanan and Mr Ramsey.

2. Minutes of the meetings held on 1 st July 2009

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

3. Departmental Briefing on the September Monitoring Round

Members welcomed Andrew Hamilton to his new role as Deputy Secretary to the Department and also wished the outgoing Deputy Secretary, Greg McConnell, well in his retirement.

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental Officials: Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, and Trevor Connolly, Director of Finance and European Division, on the Department’s September Monitoring submission to the Department of Finance and Personnel. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

4. Primary Legislation – Employment Bill

Members noted a revised timeline for the Committee Stage of the Employment Bill and also noted the Hansard transcript on the Second Stage of the Bill on 30 th July and a number of items of correspondence from the Minister detailing proposed amendments to the Bill that will be tabled in the Assembly following the Committee Stage.

Agreed: Members agreed to consider the proposed amendments at the Committee meeting on 16 th September; to take forward the Committee’s clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill at that meeting; and to consider a tabling a motion to the Assembly for the extension of the Committee Stage from 12 th October to 26 th October.

5. Departmental Consultations

Members noted the following Departmental consultation documents:

• Amendment to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Northern Ireland) 2005;
• Proposals to exempt Student Loans from Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs);
• Flexible Working and Time to Train: Proposed extension of flexible working laws; and
• Industrial Tribunal Claims and the Public Interest Disclosure (NI) Order

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer this item of business to the meeting on 16 th September for further consideration.

6. Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

The Committee thanked the Department for pushing forward publication of the Review of the CITB and noted the content of the Review report.

The Committee noted the following Statutory Rule that is subject to negative resolution and the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules:

• Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (SR 2009/271)

The Committee raised no objection to the Rule.

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (SR 2009/271) and has no objection to the rule.”

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Minister seeking further information on the merger of the CITB with ConstructionSkills, as recommended in the Review.

7. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee noted the following item of subordinate legislation:

• The Work and Families (Increase in Maximum Amount) Order (NI) 2009

The Committee also noted the following Statutory Rule that is subject to negative resolution and the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules:

• The Steps to Work (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order (NI) 2009 (SR 2009/297)

The Committee raised no objection to the Rule.

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Steps to Work (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (SR 2009/297) and has no objection to the rule.”

8. Matter Arising

• Proposals for tribunal Reform – papers from the OFMdFM Committee, Law Centre and Minister

Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Office draft a response to the OFMdFM Committee addressing the issues raised by Members and that the Committee Office takes forward the issues pertaining to the remit of the Committee and the Department.

• Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit (PEDU) – Review of PSA delivery

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister requesting the Department’s quarterly report to OFMdFM / DFP on progress towards achieving its PSA targets.

• Review of Labour Market Information

Members noted the above papers from the Department.

• Reforming the Medical Statement – Consultation on Draft Regulations

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Social Development Committee requesting the outcome of the consultation when available.

• Welfare Reform Bill 2009

Agreed: Members noted papers from the Social Development Committee on the Welfare Reform Bill 2009 and agreed to defer the issue to the meeting on 16 th September for further consideration.

• Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland

Agreed: Members noted papers from the Department on the above strategy and agreed to keep the issue under consideration as it progresses.

• DEL provisions in the Northern Ireland Education Bill

Members noted a number of items of correspondence from the Department in relation to the Northern Ireland Education Bill.

• Disability Action’s Response to the Welfare Reform Bill

Members noted the above response from Disability Action to the Welfare Reform Bill.

• Correspondence from the Minister to Stranmillis University College regarding Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Places

Members noted the above correspondence from the Minister to Stranmillis University College.

9. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses. Members were also updated on a number of recent meetings held by the Chairperson.

10. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of Departmental press notice issued recently.

11. Published Press Articles

Members noted a number of press articles published during the summer recess.

12. Any Other Business

• Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2009: Consultation Document

Agreed: Members agreed that a draft response be prepared by the Committee for Committee approval prior to the deadline of 23 rd October.

• “United States – Ireland Research and Development Partnership” – update paper

Agreed: Members noted the above paper and agreed to raise any concerns at a future meeting of the Committee.

• Holyland Stakeholder Forum: Draft Report and Outline Action Plan

Members noted the above paper from the Department.

• Department for Social Development’s Voluntary Advice Services Consultation

Agreed: Members noted the above consultation document and agreed to raise any concerns at a future meeting of the Committee.

• OFMdFM Gender Equality Strategy Progress Report

Agreed: Members noted the above report and agreed that a the Committee Office draft a response for Committee approval prior to the deadline of 1 st October.

• DEL Quarterly Research Review

Members noted the above paper from the Department.

• Stepping Stones Crèche at University of Ulster, Coleraine

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the University of Ulster expressing concerns around the proposal to close the crèche facility and also to request information on the associated Equality Impact Assessment. Members also agreed to table a Committee motion on the wider issue of crèche facilities at further and higher educational institutions.

• 2008-09 End of Session Report

Agreed: The Committee considered the 2008-09 End of Session report and agreed the content on the report.

• Forward Work Programme – for information

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of September to December 2009.

• NUS-USI Campaign to End Violence Against Women

Members noted correspondence from the NUS-USI on its campaign to end violence against women and to defer the matter to the meeting on 16 th September for further consideration.

• Correspondence from University for Derry (U4D)

Agreed: Members noted the above correspondence and agreed to receive a briefing on the issues raised.

• Constituency issue raised by Mr McClarty

Agreed: Mr McClarty discussed an issue of concern relating to a Departmental programme that had been raised by a constituent. The Committee agreed to write to the Department on the issue.

• Proposed closure of the German language department at Queen’s University

Agreed: Mr Buchanan raised concerns over the proposed closure of the German language department at Queen’s University and the Committee agreed to receive a briefing on the issue by teachers and lecturers affected by the closure.

• International Day of Peace

Members noted an invitation from the Rural Community Network to attend the “Enabling the Future by Considering the Past” consultation and networking event.

• Invitation to attend the “Northern Ireland and the Transition to a Sustainable Economy” keynote seminar

Members noted the above invitation from Queen’s University and the Sustainable Development Commission NI.

• Invitation to attend the UK Commission Ambition 2020 Report Launch Event

Members noted the above invitation from the Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

• Publication of Members’ Attendance at Committee Meetings

Agreed: Members noted correspondence in relation to the publication of their attendance at Committee meetings on the Assembly website and agreed to raise any issues with the Committee Office.

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 16 th September at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:40am.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
16 th September 2009