Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 17 April 2013
Venue: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The meeting began at 2.06 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
Early Years
Members noted an invite from Early Years to attend the launch of the Respecting Difference in the Education Sector Project funded by the PEACE III Programme in the Long Gallery on Friday 10 May 2013.
List of Invitations
Members noted the list of all other current Committee invitations
3. Draft Minutes held on the 10 April 2013
Agreed: The draft minutes of the proceedings of the 10 April 2013 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters Arising
Committee for Education
Members noted a memo from the Committee for Education regarding its formal scrutiny of the Education Bill.
Committee for Employment and Learning
Members noted a memo from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding the closure of University of Ulster crèches.
Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister – Savings Delivery Plans
Members noted correspondence from the Department regarding its savings delivery plan targets and the impact of those savings on services.
List of Outstanding Issues
Members noted the list of outstanding issues.
5. Correspondence
Committee for Finance and Personnel
Members considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Consultative Partnership Group on EU Funding 2014-2020.
Agreed: To write to thank the Committee for Finance and Personnel and request to be kept informed of developments.
6. Commissioner for Victims and Survivors
The Commissioner for Victims and Survivors joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.
The Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, Ms Kathryn Stone OBE and Commission officers Mr Adrian McNamee and Mr Neil Foster briefed the Committee on the key areas of the work of the Commission for Victims and Survivors. A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a meeting with the members of the Victims and Survivors Forum.
Alex Maskey joined the meeting at 2.35 p.m.
The witnesses left the meeting at 2.53 p.m.
7. Childcare Strategy Consultation
Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.54 p.m.
Departmental officials Mr Fergus Devitt and Dr Martin Tyrell provided the Committee with a briefing on the responses received to the Department's "Towards a Childcare Strategy" consultation.
Bronwyn McGahan left the meeting at 3 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request clarification regarding the restrictions on advertising campaigns designed to increase the uptake of childcare assistance.
Colum Eastwood left the meeting at 3.18 p.m.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.23 p.m.
8. Draft EU Priorities for 2013
The Committee considered its draft EU Priorities for inclusion in a Committee Report which will bring together Assembly Committees' Priorities for European Scrutiny in 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its draft priorities and that it would consider its draft Report at the next meeting of the Committee.
9. Any Other Business
Members considered the forward work programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the British Red Cross to brief the Committee at a future meeting of the Committee.
Members discussed the display of flags on street lampposts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the review of the flags protocol.
10. Date, Time and Location of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 24 April 2013 at 2pm.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.32 pm
