Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 2.19 pm in public session.

1. Apologies

As detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

Press Release

Agreed: The Committee agreed a Press Release in relation to the Peace III projects event held at lunchtime.

Balmoral Show

The Committee noted the programme for the Committee’s visit to the Balmoral Show on Wednesday 15 May 2013.

Professor Anja Mihr

The Committee noted a request to meet Professor Anja Mihr, who will be visiting the Assembly on 21^st or 22^nd of May, to discuss human rights issues.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would notify Committee staff if they are available to attend.

Committee Meeting at Ebrington

The Committee noted the programme for the Committee’s visit to the Ebrington site on 12 June 2013.

Mr Lyttle joined the meeting at 2.25 p.m.

Committee visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas

The Committee noted that the date for the visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas has been provisionally scheduled for Thursday 13 June 2013.

Agreed: Members agreed to confirm their availability to attend the visit within the next 24 hours.

Historical Institutional Abuse

The Committee considered an invitation from Amnesty International to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to attend a presentation on research in relation to victims of abuse who fall outside the remit of the HIA Inquiry.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to attend.

List of Invitations

The Committee noted the list of all other current Committee invitations

3. Draft Minutes  of the meeting held on 1 May 2013

Agreed: The draft minutes of the proceedings of the 1 May 2013 were agreed by the Committee.

Mr Eastwood joined the meeting at 2.32 p.m.

4. UK Minister of State for Europe 

The UK Minister of State for Europe and an official joined the meeting at 2.32 p.m.

The UK Minister of State for Europe, Rt Hon David Lidington MP and FCO official Mr Tom Barry briefed the Committee European issues and engagement with devolved regions. A question and answer session followed.

The UK Minister of State for Europe and an official left the meeting at 3.26 p.m.

Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.26 p.m.

5. Matters Arising

Consumer Focus Post

The Committee noted a response from the Department regarding the proposed amalgamation of Consumer Focus Post into the Consumer Council.

Explanatory Memorandum on Maritime Spatial Planning

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Environment in relation to the UK Government’s Explanatory Memorandum regarding an EU proposal for a Directive to establish a framework for maritime spatial planning.

Explanatory Memorandum on Regulation for High Speed Electronic Communications Networks

The Committee considered a UK Government Explanatory Memorandum regarding an EU proposal for Regulation for High Speed Electronic Communications Networks.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek legal advice from the Assembly’s Legal services in relation to subsidiarity. The Committee also agreed to request a research paper in relation to the issue.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment, the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Regional Development to seek their views, and the views of their respective Departments on the issues raised in the EM on subsidiarity.

Childcare Fund

The Committee noted the breakdown of the funding allocated from the Childcare Fund.

Opening Budget 2013/14

The Committee noted a copy of the letter sent to the Department seeking further clarification in relation to its opening budget for 2013/14.

Programme for Government

The Committee noted a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister advising that they will come to brief the Committee on 26 June 2013 to provide an update on the current strategic approach to Programme for Government implementation.

List of Outstanding Issues

Members noted the list of outstanding issues.

 6. Correspondence

Monitoring of Savings Delivery Plans

The Committee considered correspondence from the Department providing details of its mid-year performance against its Savings Delivery Plans for 2012-13.

Agreed: The Committee agreed write to the Department to seek clarification in relation to the possible correlation between a drop in consultancy costs and an increase in staffing costs.

Public Sector Renewable Generation Uptake

The Committee considered a research paper provided by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to public sector renewable energy uptake and its request to forward the research paper to the Department.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the research paper to the Department for comment.

Public Service Pensions Bill 2013

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to the Public Services Pensions Bill 2013.

Investment Strategy Activity Report April 2013

The Committee considered a copy of the Investment Strategy Activity Report for April 2013 and correspondence from the Department providing details of spend on capital projects.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on the planned spend of £1.14m on Building 80/81 which will host the Turner Prize and the long term benefit of the Turner Prize element of the £1.14m.

7. Northern Ireland Peace Monitoring Report – Number 2

Dr Paul Nolan joined the meeting at 3.37 p.m.

Mr Robinson re-joined the meeting at 4.14 p.m.       

Dr Paul Nolan, author of the Northern Ireland Peace Monitoring Report – Number 2, briefed the Committee on the content of the report. A question and answer session followed.

Dr Paul Nolan left the meeting at 4.22 p.m.

8. Any Other Business

The Committee noted the forward work programme.

 9. Date, Time and Location of next meeting

The next meeting will be held at the Balmoral Show on Wednesday 15 May 2013 at 2.00 pm.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.23 pm

Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA
Chairperson, Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister