Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 15 May 2012
12.40pm The meeting opened in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 17 April 2012
The minutes of the meeting on 17 April 2012 were agreed.
3. Business Efficiency Programme – Review of Clerking
12.41pm Mr Nesbitt joined the meeting.
12.44pm Mr Ross joined the meeting.
12.57pm Mr Givan joined the meeting.
The Group noted the Business Efficiency Programme Draft Report on the Review of Clerking and received briefing from the Clerk Assistant on the recommendations contained in the report, particularly those relating to committees.
Agreed: Following discussion, it was agreed that the Liaison Group’s comments would be drawn to the attention of the Business Efficiency Programme Project Board.
12.58pm Mr Ross left the meeting.
1.00pm Mr Nesbitt left the meeting.
4. Committee budgets – 2011/2012 outturn
The Group noted a paper on the final outturn for the 2011-12 financial year.
5. Revised Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Liaison Group noted and agreed the revised forward work programme for the 2011-2012 session.
6. Forward Work Programme for the 2012/13 session
Agreed: The Liaison Group noted and agreed the forward work programme for the 2012-2013 session.
7. Any other business
Correspondence from the AERC
The Liaison Group considered correspondence from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) on its Review of the Size of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Number of Government Departments.
Agreed: The Group agreed to respond to the AERC, agreeing that if there is a reduction in the number of MLAs, and possibly also departments, a fundamental review of the committee system should be undertaken and that such a review should address all of the issues set out in the AERC’s letter.
1.10pm Mr Kelly left the meeting.
Time of CLG meeting
The Liaison Group noted a request to hold its meetings at a later time to allow Members to attend to other commitments over the lunch break.
Agreed: The Group agreed that it would not be appropriate to hold the meetings later in the day as it would clash with Plenary business and the work of other committees.
8. Date, time and venue of next meeting
The next meeting of the Liaison Group will take place on Tuesday 19 June 2012 at 12.30pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
1.11pm The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting.
Mr Alex Maskey, Chairperson
16 October 2012
