Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings Wednesday 29 May 2024

Committee for the Executive Office minutes of proceedings 29 May 2024.pdf (162.32 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 Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA

Ms Emma Sheerin MLA

Apologies:

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Tom Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Ms Katie Egan (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Noel Gallagher (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.05pm in open session

 

1.      Apologies

As noted above.

Pádraig Delargy MLA joined the meeting at 2.05pm

 

2.      Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3.      Chairperson’s Business

There was no Chairperson’s Business.

 

4.      Draft Minutes

Agreed:  The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 22 May 2024.

 

5.      Matters Arising

i.        The Committee discussed a Clerk’s Brief on planning for a Committee inquiry into Gaps in Equality Legislation.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to proceed with the inquiry subject to alteration of the witness list.

ii.        The Committee discussed documentation which provided answers to Committee queries from last week’s meeting on the Redress Board legal fees up to March 2023 and the numbers of claims that have been rejected or discontinued.

 

6.      Oral Evidence Session – Departmental Briefing on Mother and Baby Institutions

The witnesses joined the meeting at 2.08pm

Sinéad McLaughlin MLA joined the meeting at 2.09pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Gareth Johnston, Senior Responsible Officer, The Executive Office
  • Martin Carey, Programme Director, The Executive Office
  • Michaela Jordan, Programme Manager, The Executive Office
  • Pauline Corscadden, Programme Team and Secretariat, The Executive Office

The witnesses provided the Committee an overview of the Department’s work on Truth Recovery and Mother and Baby Institutions.

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

Agreed:  Departmental Officials agreed to keep the Committee updated in their discussions with the Department for Communities in relation to unmarked graves.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance.

The witnesses left the meeting at 2.57pm

 

7.      Oral Evidence Session – Truth Recovery Independent Panel

The witnesses joined the meeting at 2.58pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Professor Leanne McCormick, Co-Chair, Truth Recovery Independent Panel
  • Professor Sean O’Connell, Co-Chair, Truth Recovery Independent Panel
  • Roisin McGlone, Member, Truth Recovery Independent Panel

The witness provided the Committee an overview of the work of the Truth Recovery Independent Panel.

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

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance.

The witness left the meeting at 3.56pm

 

8.      Oral Evidence Session – Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum

The witnesses joined the meeting at 3.57pm

Connie Egan MLA left the meeting at 3.57pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Avila Kilmurray, Chair, Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum
  • Richard-Michael Hadley, Member, Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum
  • Adele Johnston, Member, Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum
  • Patricia Mallon, Member, Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum
  • Paul McClarey, Member, Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum

The witness provided the Committee an overview of the work of the Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum.

Emma Sheerin MLA left the meeting at 4.25pm

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

Carál Ní Chuilín MLA left the meeting at 4.47pm

Brian Kingston MLA left the meeting at 4.47pm

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance.

The witnesses left the meeting at 4.51pm

 

9.      Draft Forward Work Programme

Members considered the draft forward work programme.

 

10.   Correspondence

i.        The Committee noted the summary of Committee correspondence.

ii.        The Committee noted the written statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Executive Legislation Programme 2024.

iii.        The Committee noted the Annual Report of the Victim’s Payment Board Year Ending March 2023.

iv.        The Committee noted a letter from the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse on the consultation of the draft Equality Scheme 2020-2025.

v.        The Committee noted a letter from an individual requesting to brief the Committee on historical anatomical research conducted at Queen’s University.

vi.        The Committee noted a response from the Executive Office to the Committee for Justice on the Defective Premises and Limitation Amendment Bill.

vii.        The Committee noted a letter from the Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Windsor Framework to the Minister of State for Northern Ireland on strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice on the Windsor Framework.

viii.        The Committee noted a response from the Northern Ireland Office to the Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Windsor Framework on strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice on the Windsor Framework.

ix.        The Committee noted the Investing Activity Report from the Strategic Investment Board.

 

11.   Any Other Business

None.

 

12.   Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 5 June 2024 at 2:00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.51pm

 

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office