Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 9.37 a.m.

Apologies

As above.

1.  Chairperson’s Business

Draw Down the Walls

The Committee noted an invitation from Draw Down the Walls to attend the unveiling of a temporary public art commission for the London 2012 Festival on Monday 9 July 2012.

2.  Draft minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2012

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 20 June was agreed by the Committee.

3. Matters Arising

List of Outstanding Issues

The Committee noted the list of outstanding issues.

Childcare Strategy

The Committee considered a paper from the Department providing an update on the Childcare Strategy consultation proposals.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from the Department on the Childcare Strategy consultation in early September.

Equality Screening and Impact Assessments

The Committee considered responses from the Department in relation to equality screening and impact assessments queries, raised initially by the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Department’s responses to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Race Relations Order 1997 (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

The Committee considered responses from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to the Race Relations Order 1997 (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Employment and Learning to draw the Order to its attention in the context of employment law generally.

Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 9.42 a.m.

4. Correspondence

EU Drug Strategy

The Committee considered a response from the Department in relation to the EU Drug Strategy, which was raised initially by the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, which provided a copy of a Report on the implementation of departmental Savings Delivery Plans for 2011-12.

Programme for Government Delivery Plans

The Committee considered a copy of the Department’s Programme for Government Delivery Plans.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to schedule briefings from the Department on the Programme for Government Delivery Plans in September.

Committee for Employment and Learning

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning to the Department in relation the dissolution of the Department of Employment and Learning.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department.

Linking Generations

The Committee considered a request from Linking Generations to brief the Committee on its work in promoting intergenerational practice.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to include Linking Generations in its stakeholder event in the autumn.

5.  The Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill   

The Committee received a briefing from the Assembly’s Research and Information Service on the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill. A question and answer session followed.

Ms Ruane left the meeting at 9.58 a.m.

Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 10.02 a.m.

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.04 a.m.

Mr Molloy left the meeting at 10.26 a.m.

Departmental officials, Ms Maggie Smyth, Mrs Cathy McMullan and Mr Michael Harkin briefed the Committee on the consultation that took place in relation to the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill. A question and answer session followed.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 10.48 a.m.

6. Any Other Business

Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.  

7. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 4 July 2012 at 2 p.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 10.49 a.m.

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