Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 01 February 2012
Venue: Room 30
The meeting opened in public session at 2.07 p.m.
Apologies
As above.
1. Chairperson’s Business
EC-UK Meeting
The Committee noted the report on the meeting of the EC-UK Chairpersons in Edinburgh on 23 January 2012.
Committee Invitations
The Committee noted the list of current invitations.
Danish Ambassador
The Committee noted the invitation from the Speaker, on behalf of the Danish Ambassador to the UK, to attend a reception in the Great Hall on Wednesday 15 February to mark Denmark’s Presidency of the European Union.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to meet informally with the Ambassador at approximately 5 p.m.
St Patrick’s Day
The Deputy Chairperson advised Member that he and the Chairperson has received an invitation from the First Minister and deputy First Minister to attend the Northern Ireland Bureau’s St Patrick’s Day Reception and a number of other events.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would decide whether to accept this invitation.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2012
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 25 January 2012 was agreed by the Committee.
3. Matters Arising
Committee for Social Development
The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Social Development providing information in relation to its Department’s engagement on the Outcomes Model.
Ambassadors for Change
The Committee noted correspondence from Ambassadors for Change thanking the Committee for hosting representatives at Parliament Buildings in December and inviting Members to attend a joint session with the group.
List of Outstanding Issues
The Committee noted the list of outstanding issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department in relation to the delay in responding to the Committee’s queries from June 2011 about victims and survivors groups.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to circulate to Members the letter from the Committee to the Department concerning former military sites.
4. Correspondence
Committee for Employment and Learning
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning requesting further information on poverty in relation to older people and ethnic minorities and requesting further information on the previous committee’s visit to the UK Borders Agency.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson would liaise with the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning to seek further clarification on the issue. The Committee also agreed to provide the Committee for Employment and Learning with information on the outcome of the previous Committee’s visit to the UK Border Agency.
Maze/Long Kesh Update Report
The Committee noted the latest bi-monthly update report on the progress of redevelopment at the Maze/Long Kesh site.
Investing Activity Report
The Committee noted a copy of the Department’s Investment Strategy Investing Activity Report for January 2012.
Mr Eastwood joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.
The Executive’s draft European Priorities for 2012/13
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Executive’s draft European Priorities 2012/13 to all statutory committees for comment.
5. The Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission joined the meeting at 2.23 p.m.
Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 2.32 p.m.
Mr Humphrey joined the meeting at 2.35 p.m.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.00 p.m.
Ms Anna Carragher, Northern Ireland Electoral Commissioner and Mr Seamus Magee, Head of the Electoral Commission’s NI Office briefed the Committee on the Commission’s report on the May 2011 Assembly election and the impact of combining the Assembly election with the local government election and the referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons. A question and answer session followed.
The Electoral Commission left the meeting at 3.09 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Hansard from today’s briefing to the Department.
6. Programme for Government
The Committee considered its response to the draft Programme for Government. The Committee will consider this further at next week’s meeting together with the available responses from other statutory committees.
Mr Eastwood left the meeting at 3.19 p.m.
7. Any Other Business
Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 8 February 2012 at 2 p.m.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.21 p.m.
