Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2010/2011
Date: 29 September 2010
Venue: The Senate Chamber
The meeting opened in public session at 10.10 am.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2010
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from Departmental officials on the development of a NEETs Strategy
June Ingram, Director, Strategy & Employment Relations Division, and Jim Walker and Pascal McCulla, Migrant Workers and NEETs Branch, briefed the Committee on the work of the Department in developing a strategy to address young people who are not in education, employment or learning. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for further information on this issue
3. Matters Arising
Quinn Insurance – response from OFMDFM
Members noted the above response from OFMDFM in response to Committee correspondence following a meeting with Quinn employees in June 2010
NUS-USI paper on Student Loans
Agreed: Members considered a paper prepared in November 2008 setting out the NUS-USI position on student loan repayment and the salary threshold which triggers this, and agreed to ask the Department for an update on this issue
September 2010 Monitoring Round
Agreed: The Committee considered the statement from the Minister for Finance and Personnel on the outcome of bids made in the September 2010 Monitoring Round and agreed to write to the DEL Minister to ascertain how this will impact on his department
4. Briefing from the Construction Employers Federation on current issues facing the construction industry
The Committee received a briefing from John Armstrong, Managing Director, and Ciar án Fox, Federation Manager, on various issues currently challenging the construction industry and on the Federation’s plans for the way forward. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11.31 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting
11.32 am Mr Peter Weir left the meeting
5. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered the draft Statutory Rule, The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010, which has been laid in the Assembly and is subject to affirmative resolution:
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Statutory Rule, The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010, and, subject to the ESR’s report, recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.”
6. Committee Stage of the Student Loans (Amendment) Bill (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee completed its formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the above Bill and agreed the following:
Clause 1 – Student Loans: Effect of Voluntary Arrangement
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee is content with Clause 1”
Clause 2 – Short Title
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee is content with Clause 2”
11.39 am Mr Peter Weir rejoined the meeting
7. Correspondence
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
8. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at forthcoming meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations.
9. Departmental Press Notices and Press Cuttings
Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices and Press cuttings
10. Any Other Business
Chairpersons’ Liaison Group
Members noted the key issues discussed at the meeting of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group, which was held on 21 September 2010
Members’ Attendance
Agreed: The Committee noted a record provided by the Central Committee Office of members’ attendance at Committee meetings during the 2009- 2010 session, and agreed that any further information requested should be supplied by Committee staff
Forward Work Programme – for information
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for September and October 2010.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 6 October 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 29 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.50 am
