Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2009/2010
Date: 20 January 2010
Venue: Room 30
The meeting opened at 10. 01 am in public session
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 13 January 2010
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Independent review of Variable Fees and Student Finance Arrangements
Agreed: The Chairperson clarified the role of the Chair of the Panel for the Independent Review of Variable Fees and Student Finance Arrangements, and explained that the timescale of the Report was beyond the Review Chair’s control. Members agreed that she should be commended for the diligence and thoroughness of her work.
3. Briefing from the Law Centre (NI)) on the Workplace Resolution Dispute Procedure
Daire Murphy, Employment Law Advisor, and Ursula O’Hare, Assistant Director, from the Law Centre (NI), briefed the Committee on proposed changes to the Workplace Resolution Dispute procedure . The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
10.17 am Mr William Irwin joined the meeting
4. Briefing from the Steering Group on the Review of Higher Education Strategy
Members were updated on the work of the steering group on the Review of Higher Education strategy by Sir Graeme Davies, Chair of the steering group, and by Fergus Devitt and Patricia McVeigh from Higher Education Division, DEL. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11.20 am Mr David Hilditch left the meeting
Agreed : Members agreed that Departmental officials would forward the Terms of Reference for the Review as soon as these had been agreed.
5. Matters Arising
- Committee Response to the STEM Review
Agreed: Members considered the draft Committee response and agreed that the Clerk would make a number of minor amendments.
- Student Fees
Agreed: Members agreed to defer further consideration to next week’s meeting.
- Departmental Post-project Evaluations
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, and agreed that the performance of DEL in the completion of Post-project Evaluations was to be commended.
- Employment Bill – response from the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
Agreed: Members considered the above response and agreed to seek the views of the Ulster Farmers’ Union and the trade union, Unite.
6. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
11.45 am Mr David McClarty left the meeting
7. Departmental Press Notices and Press cuttings
Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices and other extracts from the local press.
8. Any Other Business
- Senior Civil Service appointments
- Members noted the movements of senior civil servants, including the appointment of a new DEL Permanent Secretary, Mr Alan Shannon.
- DoE Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Environment Committee to DEL.
- Forward Work Programme – for information
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of January 2009 to March 2010.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 in Room 30, Parliament Building.
11.47 am. The meeting was suspended while the public gallery was cleared
- 11.53 am The meeting re-opened in closed session .
11.53 am: Mr David Hilditch re-joined the meeting
10. Briefing from Departmental officials on the Workplace Resolution Dispute Procedure
Tom Evans and Alan Scott, Employment Relations Policy and Legislation Branch, briefed the Committee on proposals to amend legislation relating to the Workplace Dispute Resolution procedure. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11.57 am: Mr David McClarty re-joined the meeting
12.03 pm Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting
12.24 pm Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting
Agreed: Members agreed that Departmental officials would provide further information as soon as this became available.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.38pm
