Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 2.03 p.m.        

Apologies

As above

1.  Chairperson’s Business

Ad-hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements, Welfare Reform Bill

The Committee considered a draft letter to the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the delay of the Department in responding to the Ad-hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements - Welfare Reform Bill.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to send the letter to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

SEUPB Peace Conference

The Deputy Chairperson provided Members with an overview of the SEUPB Peace Conference in Brussels.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to scope the possibility of hosting presentations in Parliament Buildings from the peace projects who presented in Brussels.

Mrs Hale joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.

Children’s Law Centre

The Committee noted an invitation to the Chairperson from the Children’s Law Centre to attend a youth drama event on Supporting Positive Mental Health in Schools on 19 March 2013.

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

The Committee noted an invitation from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to attend the launch of Communities in Action on Monday 11 February 2013.

National Children’s Bureau

The Deputy Chairperson gave Members an overview of meetings that he and the Chairperson had with the National Children’s Bureau.

List of Invitations

The Committee noted the list of current invitations.

2.  Draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2013

Agreed:The draft minutes of proceedings of 23 January 2013 was agreed by the Committee.

3. Matters Arising

Northern Ireland Council on Ethnic Minorities (NICEM)

The Committee noted responses from the Department in relation to the recommendations of NICEM’s “Bayanihan” Report and to issues raised by NICEM during its evidence session on 9 January 2013.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to keep a watching brief on progress of the Racial Equality Strategy and the Ethnic Minority Development Fund.

The “One Plan”

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing a written briefing on progress in relation to the “One Plan”.

Agreed:The Committee would request an oral briefing on the :One Plan” during the planned co-ordinated Committees’ visit to Londonderry.

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to Derry City Council and the City of Culture.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek its comments on the business case for Derry City’s Marketing Plan.

Sexual Orientation Strategy

The Committee considered a response from the Department in relation to progress on the Sexual Orientation Strategy. The response advised that the consultation document is under consideration and is expected to be finalised in early 2013.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to keep a watching brief on the progress of the Sexual Orientation Strategy.

Consumer Focus Post

The Committee noted a response from the Department advising that Ministers have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skill in relation to the amalgamation of Consumer Focus Post into the Consumer Council and to the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment in relation to Consumer Focus Post’s “Front Office” report.

Joint Ministerial Council (Europe)

The Committee noted a summary from junior Ministers on October’s Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe).

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 availability of a briefing on the extension of protection under Age Discrimination Legislation.

4. Correspondence

Investing Activity Report

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing further information on the spend to date in relation to OFMDFM’s Investing Activity Reports.

Committee for Social Development

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development providing an update from the Department for Social Development on the progress with the Fuel Poverty Thematic Sub-groups.

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Agreed:The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the Department requesting a briefing on proposals to boost economic activity by retro fitting energy efficiency measures in homes.

Business in the Community

The Committee noted correspondence from Business in the Community advising of its review of Corporate Responsibility in Northern Ireland.

Big Lottery Fund

The Committee noted correspondence from the Big Lottery Fund providing further information on the grants awarded through its Reaching Out programme.

Committee for Education

The Committee noted a copy of correspondence sent from the Committee for Education to the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to Clauses 3 and 34 of the Education Bill.

Mr Eastwood left the meeting at 2.15 p.m.

EU Priorities 2013-14

The Committee considered a draft copy of the Executive’s EU Priorities 2013-2014.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to forward the draft priorities to all statutory committees for comment.

Agreed:The Committee would schedule a briefing from RaISe on the European Commission’s Work Programme.

Agreed:The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to seek its analysis of the European Commission’s Work Programme in terms of items specifically within OFMDFM’s remit.

Financial Forecasting Data Outturn

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing an analysis of Financial Forecasting data.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from the Assembly’s Research and Information Service on financial forecasting.

5.  Legislative Consent Motion – UK Antarctic Bill

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.16 p.m.

Mr Eastwood re-joined the meeting at 2.19 p.m.

Departmental officials, Mr Neil Jackson and Mr Jim Hamilton briefed the Committee on a Legislative Consent Motion in relation to the UK Antarctic Bill.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 2.21 p.m.

Agreed:The Committee agreed it was content for the Legislative Consent Motion to proceed.

6.  Parades Commission

Representatives of the Parades Commission joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.

Mr Givan joined the meeting at 2.25 p.m.

Mr McCallister joined the meeting at 3.09 p.m.

Mrs Hale left the meeting at 3.20 p.m.

Mr Peter Osbourne, Chair, Commissioner Frances Nolan, Commissioner Delia Close and Mr Anthony Carleton, Secretary to the Commission briefed the Committee on the Parades Commission’s work. A question and answer session followed.

Representatives of the Parades Commission left the meeting at 3.34 p.m.

7.  Victims and Survivors Service

Representatives from the Victims and Survivors Service joined the meeting at 3.35 p.m.

Mrs Hale re-joined the meeting at 3.49 p.m.

Mr Eastwood left the meeting at 3.56 p.m.

Mrs Anne Dorbie, Chief Executive and Ms Sara Templer, Information officer, briefed the Committee on the work of the Victims and Survivors Service since it was established in April 2012. A question and answer session followed.

Representatives from the Victims and Survivors Service left the meeting at 4.06 p.m.

8. Any Other Business

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 13 February 2013 at 2 p.m.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.07 p.m.

Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Deputy Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister