Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings -  6 March 2024

Committee for the Executive Office - Minutes of Proceedings 6 March 2024.pdf (165.91 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

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Tom Armstrong (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

The Chairperson informed Members that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson met informally with the Commissioner for the Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse. The Commissioner confirmed she will come before the Committee on 10April.

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 28 February 2024.

4. Matters Arising

The Chairperson updated Members on the Inter-Parliamentary Forum that took place on 29 February in the House of Lords.

5. Oral Evidence Session – Office of the Legislative Counsel

Mr Gordon joined the meeting at 2.08pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Alexander Gordon, First Legislative Counsel, The Executive Office

Mr Gordon provided the Committee an overview of the work of the Office of the Legislative Counsel

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

The Chairperson thanked the witness for their attendance.

Mr Gordon left the meeting at 2.58pm

6. Oral Briefing Session – RaISe

Mr Orme joined the meeting at 2.59pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Stephen Orme, Research Officer, RaISe

Mr Orme provided the Committee with an overview of core issues for the Committee.

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

The Chairperson thanked the witness for their attendance.

Mr Orme left the meeting at 3.20pm

7. Oral Briefing Session – EU Affairs Manager

The witnesses joined the meeting at 3.21pm

Members received a briefing from:

  • Shauna Mageean, EU Affairs Manager
  • Jessica Jacques, EU Affairs Officer

The witnesses provided the Committee with an overview of core EU issues within the remit of the Committee

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 4.01pm

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the First and deputy First Minister to request an update and timescale on the outstanding Common Frameworks.

8. Draft Forward Work Programme

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

9. Correspondence

  1. The Committee noted the summary of Committee Correspondence.

  2. The Committee noted a memo and a letter from the Clerk to the Committee for Justice regarding residential properties at Victoria Square, Belfast

  3. The Committee noted a letter from the Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration to the Chair of the European Affairs Committee and Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee regarding Frontex working arrangement with the UK.

  4. The Committee noteda report from Investment Strategy (Northern Ireland) on Investing Activity.

  5. The Committee notedthe Second Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

  6. The Committee noted a Department of Finance press release on how the pay offer recognises role of civil servants.

  7. The Committee noted a press release from the Executive Office on Post Office Horizon convictions

  8. The Committee noted a press release from the Executive Office congratulating the Northern Ireland Women’s football team.

  9. The Committee noted a letter from an individual, relating mother and baby homes, regarding historical provision of bodies for anatomical investigations.

  10. The Committee noted an invitation to the Chairperson from the NI Youth Forum to the North-South Youth Peace Event

  11. The Committee noted a letter of introduction from the NSPCC.

  12. The Committee noted a statement from the John and Pat Hume Foundation on prioritising peace and reconciliation in programme of government.

  13. The Committee noted a letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business to the Chair of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Safety of Toys and Repealing Directive 2009/48/EC

  14. The Committee noted a press release from the Executive Office highlighting the official opening of Powerscreen’s new headquarters in Dungannon.

  15. The Committee noted a NI Fiscal Council Report on an Updated Estimate of the Relative Need for Public Spending in Northern Ireland

10. Any Other Business

None.

11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 2:00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 16.05pm

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office

20 March 2024