MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2001 AT 10.50AM IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:     Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson) Mr A Attwood Mr W Clyde Mr D McClarty Dr A McDonnell Dr D O'Hagan Mr J Wells

In attendance:     Mrs C White Mr J Nesbitt Miss J Presho Mr D Donaldson

Also in attendance:     Mr G McConnell (DETI) Mr W Hamilton (DETI)

Apologies:   Mr P Doherty

The meeting opened, in private, at 10.50am   Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.   Mr W Clyde left the meeting at 11.00am   Mr A Attwood left the meeting at 11.03am

1. Public Service Agreement

1.1 DETI officials, Mr G McConnell and Mr W Hamilton, met the Committee to discuss the Department's draft Public Service Agreement. The officials answered a number of questions on the Public Service Agreement put by the Committee. They agreed to provide the Committee with some further information.

2. Minutes of the last two meetings

2.1 The minutes of the meetings of 22 & 23 January were agreed.

3. Statutory Rule No 388/2000 - Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

3.1 The Committee took account of the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the technical aspects of this Rule - none of the grounds specified in Standing Order 41(4) were raised by the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Committee considered the merits of the Rule, taking into account the Rule itself and the Explanatory Memorandum from the Department.

Agreed - that the Committee accept Statutory Rule No. 388/2000.

The meeting closed at 12noon

Mr S Neeson