Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 10 February 2010
Venue: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The meeting opened in public session at 2.05 p.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed. There were no disclosures.
Hillsborough Castle Agreement
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Deputy Chairperson will be meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss the role of the Committee in relation to the Hillsborough Castle Agreement.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it no longer required a briefing from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on an agreed financial package for the devolution of policing and justice matters and that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson can raise this issue with the First Minister and deputy First Minister at the meeting.
Mrs Long joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 3 February 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
4. European Issues
Mr Michael Smyth and Ms Jane Morrice joined the meeting at 2.12 p.m.
Mr Michael Smyth and Ms Jane Morrice, Northern Ireland’s representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee briefed the Committee on their work on European issues and provided information on upcoming priorities. A question and answer session followed.
Mr Michael Smyth and Ms Jane Morrice left the meeting at 2.45 p.m.
Mr William McGivern and Mr Andrew Dougal joined the meeting at 2.46 p.m.
Mr William McGivern and Mr Andrew Dougal, from the Northern Ireland Council of the European Movement briefed the Committee on their work on European issues. A question and answer session followed.
Mr William McGivern and Mr Andrew Dougal left the meeting at 3.10 p.m.
5. February Monitoring Round
Departmental official, Mrs Jackie Kerr joined the meeting at 3.12 p.m.
A Departmental official briefed the Committee on the Department’s proposals for the February Monitoring Round. A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to raise a number of concerns in relation to the February Monitoring Round.
6. Revised Departmental Expenditure Plan 2010-11
A Departmental official briefed the Committee on the revised Departmental Expenditure Plan 2010/11. A question and answer session followed.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.55 p.m.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.56 p.m.
Departmental official, Mrs Jackie Kerr left the meeting at 3.58 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would draft a response on the Department’s Revised Expenditure Plan 2010/11 to issue to the Committee for Finance and Personnel for inclusion in their Report.
7. Consultation on Victims and Survivors Service
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the responses in detail following a briefing from the Commissioners for Victims and Survivors at next week’s meeting.
8. Matters arising
Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on the membership of the Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on Disability.
Equality Commission
The Committee noted the Equality Commission’s response to the Department’s consultation on the draft Commissioner for Older People Bill.
9. Correspondence
Committee for Regional Development
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development concerning the provision for community transport.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it had no comment on the paper and that it would forward the correspondence to the Department to seek information on its support for the provision of community transport.
Department’s Business Plan
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department advising that due to the organisational change plan that it would not be producing a Business Plan for 2009/10 and that the Business Plan for 2010/11 is currently under consideration by Ministers.
10. Any other Business
No other business.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 17 February 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.03 p.m.
