Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 28 September 2011
Venue: Room 29
The meeting opened in public session at 10.53 am.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chair’s Business
The Chairperson updated members with details of his attendance at various events and meetings on behalf of the Committee.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2011
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
4. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee agreed to move to Agenda item 5.
The Committee considered the SL1 proposal for The Further Education Teachers’ (Eligibility) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to proceed to make the Statutory Rule.
5. Correspondence
The Committee agreed to move to Agenda item 8.
The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:
- A letter from the Department for Employment and Learning, advising that it has received a letter from the Westminster Government seeking its permission to amend Northern Ireland legislation relating to employment agencies to enable implementation of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence. - A letter from the Department for Employment and Learning, detailing the Terms of Reference for the Review into industrial relations matters at North West Regional College.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence. - Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity Report for September 2011 from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this Report. - Correspondence from Business in the Community attaching an article entitled ‘CRUX of the Matter’ on graduate unemployment in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence. - A memo from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, attaching a letter from the Association of Veterinary Surgeons on the lack of third level education provision for Veterinary Science in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence. - Correspondence from the Bamford Monitoring Group of the Patient and Client Council enclosing a series of reports.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence. - 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this Report. - A note of the issues discussed and decisions taken at the most recent Chairpersons Liaison Group meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this information. - Further correspondence from the Patient and Client Council requesting an opportunity to brief the Committee on young people with a learning disability in Further Education.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing. - Annual Report of the Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers Associations 2010 – 2011.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this Report. - Questionnaires from the Central Committee Office on the provision of electronic meeting packs.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to complete these questionnaires. - Correspondence incorrectly addressed to a Committee member demanding immediate repayment of a student loan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the correspondent clarifying their procedures for accurately identifying student debtors.
The Committee also noted a number of invitations received.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should establish the availability of advance briefing papers for the OECD High-Level Parliamentary Seminar, “Addressing the Social Impact of the Crisis”, and circulate this information to members.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that one member and the Clerk should attend the Seminar, subject to the members’ approval after the availability of papers is known.
6. Draft Forward Work Programme
The Committee agreed to move to Agenda item 9
The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme for the remainder of the calendar year.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content to schedule these briefings.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that lunch should be provided at the Long Gallery event on 24 October 2011.
7. Briefing from representatives of the Board, staff and students on the work of Parkanaur College.
College representatives joined the meeting at 11.10 am.
The Committee was briefed by Mr Wilfred Mitchell, Chief Executive, Professor Bernard Cullen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr Thomas O’Sullivan, Horticulturist and Lecturer, Ms Pamela McElmurry, Residential Care Manager, Ms Orla Corrigan, Senior Tutor, and Mr Sean Muldoon and Ms Jade Kelly, both students, on the work of Parkanaur College.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session when the College representatives agreed to provide further information on their concerns for the future of Parkanaur.
11.48 am Ms Michelle Gildernew left the meeting.
11.52 am Mr Jim Allister left the meeting
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.48 am.
