Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 2.04 p.m.

Apologies

As above.

1. Chairperson’s Business

National Assembly for Wales Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee

The Committee considered an invitation to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from the National Assembly for Wales’ Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee to attend a working lunch in Parliament Buildings on 21 June 2012 to discuss its Inquiry into the establishment of a separate Welsh jurisdiction. The Chairperson advised Members that both he and the Deputy Chairperson were unable to attend.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Mr Molloy and Mr Kinahan would attend the working lunch on behalf of the Committee.

Belfast Healthy Cities

The Committee considered a request from Belfast Healthy Cities to brief the Committee on its work.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would consider options for a stakeholder event in autumn.

Freedom of Information Requests

Agreed: The Committee agreed that, in relation to Freedom of Information requests over the summer recess period, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson consider any non-routine or contentious requests.

2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2012

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 13 June was agreed by the Committee.

3. Matters Arising

Investing Activity Report

The Committee noted clarification provided by the Department in relation to the total spend on the Maze/Long Kesh site and the figures produced in the Investing Activity Report.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing a copy of an update paper from the Department for Finance and Personnel on the future of EU funding after 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this paper further on 4 July 2012, when it is briefed by Departmental officials on EU issues and the work of the Barroso Taskforce.

List of Outstanding Issues

The Committee considered the list of outstanding issues.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to Ministers in relation to outstanding Committee request for sight of the business case for the Victims and Survivors Service.

Advisory Group on Alleviating Hardship

The Committee considered a response from the Department to the Committee for Social Development on the Advisory Group on Alleviating Hardship.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Social Development.

Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

The Committee noted clarification provided by the Department in relation to the Business Plan and Corporate Plan for the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People.

4. Proposals to update and Reform the Office of the Ombudsman

The Committee reviewed the policy decisions that it has made to date in relation to proposals to update and reform the office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman.

Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.

Mr Eastwood joined the meeting at 2.13

Mr Lyttle joined the meeting at 2.23 p.m.

Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 2.26 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further clarification in relation to some issues.

5. The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry 

Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.01 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it had not had sufficient time to determine a Committee position on the Bill prior to the Second Stage.

Ms Ruane left the meeting at 3.06 p.m.

6. Horizon 2020

The Committee received a briefing from the Assembly’s Research and Information Service on Horizon 2020 in advance of the Committee’s EU Panel meeting on Monday 25 June 2012.

7. Child Poverty Act – Annual Report

A Departmental official joined the meeting at 3.25 p.m.

Mr Robinson re-joined the meeting at 3.32 p.m.

Mr Buchanan left the meeting at 3.53 p.m.

Departmental official, Mr Joe Reynolds briefed the Committee on the Child Poverty Act – Annual Report. A question and answer session followed.

The Departmental official left the meeting at 3.56 p.m.

The Child Poverty Alliance joined the meeting at 3.56 p.m.

Mr Molloy left the meeting at 4.02 p.m.

Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 4.25 p.m.

Mr Clarke left the meeting at 4.34 p.m.

Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 4.36 p.m.

Representatives from the Child Poverty Alliance, Mrs Anne Moore, Ms Marie Cavanagh, Professor Paddy Hillyard and Ms Lorraine Boyd briefed the Committee on its view of the Child Poverty Act – Annual Report. A question and answer session followed.

The Child Poverty Alliance left the meeting at 4.42 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for its response to the issues raised in the briefing paper provided by the Child Poverty Alliance, on receipt of which a further briefing from officials would be scheduled.

8. Any Other Business

Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the updated Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to reschedule the meeting of 27 June 2012 to Tuesday 26 June at 9.30 a.m.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30, Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 26 June 2012 at 9.30 a.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.44 p.m.

Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Deputy Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister