Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings Wednesday 10 April 2024

Committee for The Executive Office, minutes of proceedings 10 April 2024.pdf (164.9 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:                   

Ms Paula Bradshaw MLA (Chairperson)

Ms Connie Egan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Brian Kingston MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

Ms Emma Sheerin MLA

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Ms Aoibheann Baker (Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Ms Andrienne Magee (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Adam Byrne (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.05pm in open session

1.      Apologies

There were no apologies.

2.      Chairperson’s Business

i.        The Chairperson informed Members that Tom from the Committee team is on paternity leave as he and his wife welcomed a baby boy last week. The Committee offered its congratulations to the family.

ii.        The Chairperson informed Members that the first meeting of the East-West Council took place on the 26 March 2024. The Committee did not receive prior notification of the meeting and has not received any subsequent update from the Department.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister requesting it be informed of future East-West Council meetings.

3.      Draft Minutes

Agreed:  The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20 March 2024.

4.      Matters Arising

The Chairperson asked the Committee to note a number of research papers received from the Commission for Victims and Survivors following their presentation to the Committee on 20 March 2024.

5.      Oral Evidence Session – Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA)

Fiona Ryan and Denise Morgan joined the meeting at 2.07pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Fiona Ryan, Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse
  • Denise Morgan, Head of Policy Research and Development, COSICA

Ms Ryan provided the Committee an overview of the work of the Office of the Commissioner.

The oral evidence was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance.

Ms Ryan and Ms Morgan left the meeting at 3.07pm

6.      Oral Briefing Session – Rosetta Trust and Survivors North West

Jon McCourt, Gerry McCann and Patricia Lundy joined the meeting at 3.10pm

The Committee noted an apology from Cyril Glass, Survivors Together.

Members received a briefing from:

  • Jon McCourt (Survivors North West)
  • Gerry McCann (Rosetta Trust)
  • Patricia Lundy (Ulster University)

The witnesses provided the Committee with an overview of their outstanding issues in respect of the proposed memorial programme for the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse and contributions by the institutions responsible for abuse.

The oral evidence was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance.

The witnesses left the meeting at 4.04pm

The meeting was suspended at 4.05pm

Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA, left the meeting at 4.05pm

The meeting recommenced at 4.10pm in open session

7.      Oral Briefing Session – SAVIA

Margaret McGuckin and Una McNeice joined the meeting at 4.10pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Margaret McGuckin – Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (SAVIA)
  • Una McNeice - Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (SAVIA)

The witnesses provided the Committee with an overview of their outstanding issues in respect of the proposed memorial programme for the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse, contributions by the institutions responsible for abuse and the support services available to victims and survivors.

The oral evidence was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the witness for her attendance.

The witnesses left the meeting at 4.50pm

8.      Draft Forward Work Programme

  • Request from TEO to move EVAWG (Ending Violence Against Women and Girls) session from 8 May to 15 May.
  • Request to move Mother and Baby Institutions and Magdalene Laundries session from 1 May to 29 May to incorporate the anticipated publication of the interim report of the Independent Panel.

Agreed:  Members agreed they were content to proceed with the briefings as set out in the work programme.

9.      Correspondence

Agreed:  The Clerk to complete a list of actions in respect of the correspondence to be considered and circulate to Members.

10.   Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 April 2024 at 2:00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 16.52pm

 

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office

10 April 2024