Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 11 January 2012
Venue: Room 115
The meeting opened in closed session at 2.08 p.m.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
EU Visit Report
The Committee noted the Report on its visit to Edinburgh and Brussels.
Voice of Young People in Care
The Committee noted the invitation to attend the Voice of Young People in Care’s Care Leavers’ Question Time on Wednesday 18 January 2012.
Committee Invitations
The Committee noted the list of current invitations.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2011
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 14 December 2011 was agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters Arising
Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)
The Committee noted a briefing from junior Ministers on the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe) meeting held on 13 October 2011.
January Monitoring Round 2011/12
The Committee noted an update from the Department providing its final amendments to the January Monitoring Round 2011/12.
Barroso Taskforce Update
The Committee noted an update from the Department on the work of the Barroso Taskforce.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule in a briefing from the Department on the work in relation to the Barroso Taskforce onto the forward Work Programme.
Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development advising that it will not be submitting a response to the Committee on the draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy.
Ambassadors for Change
The Committee noted an update Report from Ambassadors for Change on the work it is undertaking.
Committee for Finance and Personnel
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing further information in relation to negotiations on PEACE IV funding. The Chairperson advised Members that he will meet with the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel to discuss this issue.
List of Outstanding Issues
The Committee noted the list of outstanding issues.
5. Correspondence
Investing Activity Report
The Committee noted a copy of the Department’s Investment Strategy Investing Activity Report for December 2011.
Reducing Departmental Energy Use
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department concerning reducing Departmental energy use to the Committee for the Environment.
Determination and Designation of the Financial Assistance Act
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward copies of correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Financial Assistance Bill to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety and to the Committee for Social Development.
Committee for Social Development
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Social Development concerning the Childcare Strategy to the Department.
Consumer Council
The Committee noted correspondence from the Consumer Council providing a copy of a briefing in relation to the OFT findings on the Private Car Insurance Market.
6. Draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Victims and Survivors, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Commissioner for Older People joined the meeting at 2.15 p.m.
Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 2.36 p.m.
The Committee held a roundtable discussion with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Victims and Survivors, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Commissioner for Older People on the draft Programme for Government. The discussion specifically focused on the gaps in the Programme for Government, the outcomes and targets and how the Programme for Government will be monitored.
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Victims and Survivors, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Commissioner for Older People left the meeting at 3.45 p.m.
7. Any Other Business
Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 18 January 2012 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.47 p.m.
