Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 14 February 2024

Committee for the Executive Office - Minutes of Proccedings 14 February 2024.pdf (207.31 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 Emma Sheerin MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Tom Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Ms Andrienne Magee (Clerical Supervisor)

The meeting commenced at 2.04pm in open session

1.  Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Staff Contact Details

Noted: The Committee noted the Committee for the Executive Office staff contact details.

3. Committee Membership

Noted: The Committee noted the membership of the Committee for the Executive Office

4. Declaration of Members’ Interests

The Chairperson informed Members of the requirement in Standing Order 69(5) that:

‘A Member who has

(a)  a financial interest in any matter; or

(b)  a relevant interest in any matter,

must declare that interest before taking part in any proceedings of the Assembly relating to that matter.’

The Chairperson advised that ‘proceedings of the Assembly’ included meetings of the Committee for the Executive Office and asked Members if they had any interests to declare.

No interests were declared.

5. Committee for the Executive Office Legacy Report 2017-22

Noted: The Committee noted the Legacy Report of the 2017-22 Committee for the Executive Office

The meeting moved into closed session at 2.08pm

6. Committee Procedures and Practices

Noted: The Committee noted the following documents;

  • Arrangements for Committee meetings
  • Committee approach to use of social media
  • Outcomes of an effective Committee
  • Committee approach to dealing with correspondence and requests
  • Committee approach to preparation and questioning
  • Protocol on conduct and courtesy in committee meetings
  • Committee for the Executive Office Induction Plan
  • Timescales for Interaction between Committees and Departments
  • Powers and Operation of Statutory Committees for Chairpersons and Members
  • Role of the Chairperson
  • Role and Functions of the Committee Office.

The meeting moved into open session at 2.27pm

7. Departmental Evidence Session – First Day Brief

Officials from The Executive Office joined the meeting at 2.28pm

Members received a briefing from;

  • Gareth Johnson, Acting Accounting Officer and Deputy Director, Good Relations & Inclusion, The Executive Office
  • Karen Pearson, Deputy Secretary Covid Recovery, Civil Contingencies & Programme for Government, The Executive Office 
  • Claire Archbold, Deputy Secretary Ending Violence Against Women & Girls, The Executive Office
  • Anthony Miller, Director Post EU-Exit Co-ordination Group, The Executive Office

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

The Chairperson thanked The Executive Office officials for their attendance

Officials from The Executive Office left the meeting at 3.36pm

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Executive Office to provide an update on the action currently being taken on Mother & Baby Homes

Agreed: The Committee agreed to share the First Day Brief with the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee, the Justice Committee and the EU Affairs Manager.

The meeting moved into closed session at 3.36pm

8. Subordinate Legislation – Oral Briefing on Technical Scrutiny from Examiner of Statutory Rules

The Examiner of Statutory Rules joined the meeting at 3.36pm

Members received a briefing from;

  • Angela Kelly, Examiner of Statutory Rules

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

The Chairperson thanked the witness for their attendance

Noted: The Committee noted SR 2023/105 The Period Products (Free Provision) (2022 Act) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023

Claire Sugden left the meeting at 3.44pm

The Examiner of Statutory Rules left the meeting at 3.52pm

The meeting moved into open session at 3.52pm

9. Motion – Delegation of Technical Scrutiny to Examiner of Statutory Rules

Members discussed the delegation of technical scrutiny to the Examiner of

Statutory Rules.

Question put and agreed:

“That the Committee for the Executive Office, under Standing Order 43, resolves to delegate to the Examiner of Statutory Rules the technical scrutiny of statutory rules referred to the Committee under the above-mentioned Standing Order. The Committee further resolves that in carrying out this function the Examine shall be authorised to report her technical findings on each statutory rule to the Assembly, and to the relevant Department, as well as the Committee itself and to publish her report.”

10. Draft Forward Work Programme

Noted: The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme

11. Correspondence

  1. The Committee noted a list of Papers Laid and Presented to the Business Office during the period the Assembly was not sitting which are of relevance to the Committee.

  2. The Committee noted an itemised list of correspondence received during the period the Assembly was not sitting.

  3. The Committee noted a TEO News Release on a Fair and Just Settlement Needed for NI Public Sector Workers.

  4. The Committee noted a TEO News Release on a Statement Following the Death of John Bruton.

  5. The Committee noted papers from the EU Affairs Manager.

  6. The Committee noted a Letter of Introduction from the Alzheimer’s Society.

  7. The Committee noted a letter from an individual regarding an Equality Audit of the NI University Sector.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to defer the matter to the Committee for the Economy

12. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson informed members that she has been invited to represent the Committee at the Inter-Parliamentary Forum in the House of Lords on 29 February.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson can attend the Forum on behalf of the Committee

13. Any Other Business

None.

14. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 24 February 2024 at 2:00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings

The meeting was adjourned at 3.57pm

 

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office

14 February 2024