Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in closed session at 11.05 am.

1. Consideration of the Summary of Responses and Evidence to the Committee’s Consultation on the Dissolution of the Department for Employment and Learning and the Transfer of its Functions

The Committee considered a draft summary of responses to its consultation on the Dissolution of the Department for Employment and Learning and the Transfer of its Functions.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the summary.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the required extract of the minutes should be attached approved by the Chairperson.

Agreed: The Committee agreed a draft press release.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the summary should be published formally as a Report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson will contact the Speaker to establish the protocol where a Minister is not present in Plenary to respond to a motion.

The meeting moved into public session at 11.29 am.

2. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 8.

The Committee considered the SL1 proposal for The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of the SL1 proposal.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department on the implications of a recent court case regarding the employment rights of volunteers.

3. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 9.

The Committee considered the SL1 proposal for The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of the SL1 proposal.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Department on this SL1.

4. Correspondence

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 10.

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

• Consultation paper from the Department on Statutory Annual Leave Entitlement

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Regular update from the Department on Apprenticeships as at 1 May 2012

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this update.

• Report from the Department on ‘Delivering Success through Excellence’

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing.

• Memo and briefing paper on Business in the Community Workplace 20:20 Campaign from the Committee for Health and Social Services and Public Safety

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this paper to the Minister for comment.

• Memo from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding future EU funding 2014 – 2020

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a copy of the Department’s response if this is available.

• Research paper on Scottish tuition fees for Northern Ireland students

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to note this paper.

• Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action requesting an opportunity to brief the Committee on the Shaping an Employment programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing.

• Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, enclosing correspondence from the Department of Finance and Personnel on the role of PEDU in monitoring the Programme for Government

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

The Committee also noted a number of invitations received.

5. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

6. Chair’s Business

• The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing on Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).
• The Chairperson reminded members that he would be speaking at the FALNI ‘Adult Learners Week’ event in the Long Gallery next Tuesday.

7. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 12.

• The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding contact information for the Student Loans Company.

8.  Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 11.

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 27 June 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content to schedule these briefings.

9.  Minutes of the meeting held on 2 May 2012

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

10.  Matters arising

• The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister in relation to staffing issues at North West Regional College.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister highlighting its concerns.

11.  Briefing from the South West College on the its work with Industry

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.51 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Malachy McAleer, Director, Mr Padraig McNamee, Head of Technology Department, and Dr Jill Cush, InnoTech Centre Manager, on the College’s engagement with industry. Mr Liam Curran, Senior Lecturer, also spoke about the Children’s University.

12.03 pm Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session when the representatives agreed to provide further information to the Committee on a number of issues.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a meeting at the STEM Centre in Dungannon.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Education regarding the Children’s University.

Representatives left the meeting at 12.52 pm.

12.  Briefing from Todds Leap Activity Centre on working with Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training

A representative joined the meeting at 12.53pm.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Benny O’Hanlon, owner of the Centre, on working with Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs).

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The representative left the meeting at 1.26 pm.

13.  Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday, 16 May 2012, at 10.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.27 pm.

Mr Basil McCrea
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
16 May 2012