Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in closed session at 2.07 p.m.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Ministerial Direction/Departmental Accounting

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.07 p.m.

Mr Lyttle joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.

Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 3.07 p.m.

Departmental officials Mr Noel Lavery, Mr Stephen Boyd and Mr James McAleer briefed the Committee on the Ministerial Direction in relation to the Shackleton site. A question and answer session followed.

The meeting moved into public session at 3.15 p.m.

Departmental officials Mr Noel Lavery, Mr Stephen Boyd and Mr Lawrence Hyland briefed the Committee on Departmental accounting. A question and answer session followed.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.55 p.m.

3. Chairperson’s Business

Committee Invitations

The Committee noted the list of current invitations.

4. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2011

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 9 November 2011 was agreed by the Committee.

5. Matters Arising

Childcare Scheme

The Committee noted a response from junior Ministers concerning the Childcare Voucher Scheme .

Social Investment Fund

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to the consultation on the Social Investment Fund .

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to the final draft report on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities .

Research Papers: EU Peace and InterReg Programmes

The Committee noted a research paper on Infrastructure Projects in the European Union Peace and InterReg Programmes .

National Union of Students

The Committee noted a paper provided by the National Union of Students following last week’s evidence session .

List of Outstanding Issues

The Committee noted the list of outstanding issues.

6. Correspondence

Committee for Justice

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Justice concerning the process to appoint the next Police Ombudsman to the Department. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department urging a quick appointment process with no undue delay.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

Agreed: The Committee agreed a response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Executive Review of Financial Processes.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to European issues .

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to the World Police and Fire Games.

Committee for Justice

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Justice concerning the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Child Abuse to the Department.

Chairpersons’ Liaison Group

The Committee noted correspondence from the Chair of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group in relation to Departmental Monitoring Round Submissions.

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning its Inquiry into Research and Development.

Post 19 Lobby Group

The Committee considered a request from the Post 19 Lobby Group to brief the Committee on issues around the transition from child to adult provision for young people of 19+ with severe learning difficulties.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to liaise with other statutory committees to consider a co-ordinated approach.

Letter from Jim Nicholson MEP

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Jim Nicholson MEP concerning the Committee’s EU Advisory Panel. The Chairperson advised Members that he would be meeting with Jim Nicholson MEP and Diane Dodds MEP on Monday to discuss the Panel.

Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to its priorities.

7. Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM)

Representatives from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities joined the meeting at 4.15 p.m.

Mr Nesbitt left the meeting at 4.25 p.m.

Ms Ruane left the meeting at 4.39 p.m.

Mr Patrick Yu, Executive Director and Ms Helena Macormac of NICEM briefed the Committee on its response to the UN Committee for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. A question and answer session followed.

Representatives from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities left the meeting at 4.42 p.m.

8. Any Other Business

Ambassadors for Change

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move the Ambassadors for Change event from Wednesday 30 November to Wednesday 7 December at 5 p.m.

Meeting on 30 November 2011

The Committee considered the industrial action on 30 November 2011 and how it may impact on the Committee’s weekly meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold its weekly meeting as normal on Wednesday 30 November 2011.

NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing a breakdown of savings in relation to the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Office move to Equality House.

Committee for the Environment

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Department concerning local government reform to the Committee for the Environment.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning Post Project Evaluations and the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 30 November 2011 at 2 p.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.57 p.m.

Mr Tom Elliott MLA
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister