Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.01 am.

1. Apologies

There are no apologies.

2. Chairperson's Business

• The Chairperson informed Members that, in his absence, the Deputy Chairperson and the Clerk had met with the Minister on 4 June 2013, ahead of the Minister's statement in Plenary relating to Gender Issues in Education and Training and Skills.

• The Committee discussed the Committee forward planning day on Wednesday 4 September 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Assembly Research and Information Service researcher should also attend the planning day.

• The Committee discussed the availability of financial assistance for a disabled person to gain access to "work experience" particularly in regard to transport and carers costs

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on this issue.

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2013

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

• The Committee noted a list of matters arising from the previous meeting.

5. Correspondence

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

• Correspondence from the Committee for Education to Queen's University and the University of Ulster regarding the on-going review of examinations

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Response from South West College regarding Public Sector Renewable Generation Uptake.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Departmental response to the Committee request for further information on the destination of Further Education school leavers with learning disabilities.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Departmental response to Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety correspondence regarding its action in relation to suicide prevention.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Department for Employment and Learning - Investing Activity Report - May 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Report.

• Correspondence from Include Youth requesting that the Committee holds the planned visit and meeting to an Include Youth office in its Omagh office.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in Include Youth's Omagh office.

• Correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the impact of the closure of Educational Guidance Service for Adults.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Departmental response to Committee correspondence regarding drop-out rates in the Further Education Sector.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Departmental response to Committee request for further information on the Access to Work scheme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Response from Queens University Belfast regarding Public Sector Renewable Generation Uptake.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• An invitation from Queens University Belfast to attend the Summer Graduation dinner in the Great Hall on 2 July 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• An invitation from Queens University Belfast to attend the 3rd Annual Conference of the Queens University Autism Research and Treatment (QUART) Forum in Whitla Hall on 20 September 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• An invitation from the Minister for Employment and Learning to celebrate VQ Day in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings on 5 June 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• An invitation from the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust to attend its Educational programme in the Houses of the Oireachtas, Dublin on 19 – 20 June 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Invitation from Queens University Belfast to attend a pre G8 Summit conference with the theme of 'Trade, Transparency, Tax and Terrorism' in Queens University Belfast on 14 June 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

10.08 am Mr Allister joined the meeting.

• Invitation from the Labour Relations Agency attend its Conference: 'International Perspectives on Employment Relations' in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast on 2 August 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Invitation from the University and Colleges Union to attend its Annual General Meeting and Conference in the Senate Room, Lanyon South, Queens University Belfast on 19 June 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Invitation from the Assembly Education Service and Youth Action to take part in a youth event in Parliament Buildings on 19 June 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

6. Forward Work Programme

• The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 4 September 2013.

7. Subordinate Legislation: SL1 - The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013

The Committee considered proposals for a proposed Statutory Rule which will enable CITB-Construction Skills NI to fulfil its role and to raise funding through a levy on employers in the industry.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Rule.

8. Assembly Research and Information Service Briefing on European Commission Legislative Work Programme

The Assembly Researcher joined the meeting at 10.10 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Eoin Murphy, Researcher, Assembly Research and Information Service on the European Commission Legislative Work Programme.

10.13 am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting.

10.13 am Ms McGahan joined the meeting.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The Assembly Researcher agreed to provide further information on a number of issues raised.

The Assembly Researcher left the meeting at 10.29 pm.

9. Departmental briefing on European Issues

Officials joined the meeting at 10.30 pm.

The Committee was briefed Mr Gordon Browne, Barroso Taskforce Working Group Competiveness and Employment Thematic Group Desk Officer, Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and Mrs Patricia McVeigh, Head of European Policy Branch, Department for Employment and Learning on the European Commission Legislative Work Programme.

10.34 am Mr Lyttle joined the meeting.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Officials left the meeting at 10.51 am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for information on recent changes in the reporting structures of Thematic Group Desk Officers in reporting to Committees.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking further information on its engagements with the European Commission on the issue of undeclared work especially in a cross-border context.

10. Any other Business

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 11.

None.

The Committee was suspended at 10.56 am.

The Committee resumed at 11.15 am.

11. Departmental briefing on the Report on the Review of Industrial Relations in North West Regional College Action Plan

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 10.

The officials joined the meeting at 11.15 am.

The Committee was briefed by Dr Mary McIvor, Director of Further Education and Mr Richard Kenny, Head of Further Education Corporate Governance and Accountability on the Report on the Review of Industrial Relations in North West Regional College Action Plan.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The officials agreed to provide information on the members of the College Improvement Team.

The officials left the meeting at 12.13 pm.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday 12 June 2013 at 10:30 am in University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Londonderry/Derry.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.13 pm.

Mr Robin Swann MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
12 June 2013