Committee for the Executive Office
Minutes of Proceedings 20 October 2021
Minutes of Proceedings Executive 20 October 2021.pdf (166.92 kb)
Meeting Location: The Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA (Chairperson)
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Diane Dodds MLA
Mr Trevor Lunn MLA
Mr Pat Sheehan MLA
Present via Video Conferencing:
Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA
Ms Emma Sheerin MLA
Apologies: None.
In Attendance:
Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Carla Campbell (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Sarah-Anne McKinley (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Andrienne Magee (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 2:04pm in open session
1. Apologies
As Above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson thanked Colin McGrath MLA for his work as the outgoing Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office and expressed her delight to be joining the Committee as Chairperson.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 13th October 2021.
4. Matters Arising
The Chairperson informed Members that an alternative date for the meeting with the House of Lords Constitution Committee, to give evidence on inter-parliamentary relations, had been identified.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to meet with the House of Lords Constitution Committee on Thursday 4th November 2021 at 10:00am.
5. Correspondence
i. The Committee noted a European Commission press release “Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: Commission proposes bespoke arrangements to benefit Northern Ireland”, 13 October 2021.
ii. The Committee noted European Commission non-papers “Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland”.
iii. The Committee noted European Commission questions and answers on the Commission’s proposals on bespoke arrangements for the benefit of Northern Ireland, 13 October 2021.
iv. The Committee noted a European Commission paper “Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland 8 Concrete Examples of the Benefits of Today’s Proposals”, 13 October 2021.
v. The Committee noted European Commission paper “Examples of flexibilities already identified by the European Commission in an effort to facilitate the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland”, 13 October 2021.
vi. The Committee noted European Commission paper “The Benefits of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland uniquely well positioned”, 13 October 2021.
vii. The Committee noted a joint communiqué from the North South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety meeting, 14 October 2021.
viii. The Committee noted a response from the Executive Office in relation to responsibility for vaccine passports.
ix. The Committee noted an Executive Office press release “Givan and O’Neill host roundtable with institutions on redress for victims and survivors”, 14 October 2021.
x. The Committee noted a written Ministerial statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on Autumn/Winter contingency plan, our “Pathway out of Restrictions” and our key principles.
xi. The Committee noted the Northern Ireland Executive Autumn/Winter Covid-19 Contingency Plan, October 2021.
xii. The Committee noted correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister congratulating Sinéad McLaughlin MLA on her appointment as Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office.
xiii. The Committee noted a UK Government press release “PM Covid recovery meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister: 18 October 2021”.
The Committee noted a UK Government press release “Lord Frost meeting with Vice President Šefčovič: Friday 15 October 2021”.
xv. The Committee noted a European Commission statement following Vice-President Šefčovič‘s meeting with Lord Frost on 15 October 2021.
xvi. The Committee considered correspondence from the Centre for Cross Border Studies in relation to research commissioned by the Committee for the Executive Office.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Centre for Cross Border Studies to explain the Committee’s interest in the area of civic engagement.
xvii.The Committee considered correspondence from a councillor raising concerns regarding the Executive Office tender for Lived Experience Research in relation to the Refugee Integration Strategy, including the short time for tender application.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Executive Office to seek an extension to the tender deadline and to invite officials to appear before the Committee to discuss the tender at the next meeting on 3 November 2021.
6. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme for October – November 2021.
7. Engagement with the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU – Impact of EU Exit on Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – Oral Briefing
The Senators joined the meeting at 2:12pm.
- Senator Lisa Chambers, Chairperson, Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
- Senator Malcolm Byrne, Member, Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
- Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, Member, Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
- Senator Róisín Garvey, Member, Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
The Senators briefed Committee Members on their Interim Report on the Impacts of Brexit.
During their evidence, the Senators extended an invitation to the Committee for the Executive Office to meet with the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU at Leinster House in Dublin.
The oral evidence was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the Senators for their attendance.
8. Any Other Business
None.
9. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 3rd November 2021, Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:18pm.
Sinéad McLaughlin
Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office
