Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 5 February 2025

Committee for The Executive Office - 5 February 2025.pdf (188 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

 

Present:

Ms Paula Bradshaw MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Brian Kingston MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

Ms Emma Sheerin MLA

 

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Mr Timothy Gaston MLA

Ms. Claire Sugden MLA

 

Apologies:

 Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

 

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Tom Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Neil Porter (Clerical Supervisor)

Ms Andrienne Magee (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.02pm in public session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Ms. Claire Sugden MLA joined the meeting at 2.03pm

 

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chair informed the Committee that she attended a Brave Belfast Cailíní event on 4 February 2025.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 29 January 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

The Committee noted historical institutional abuse and truth recovery timelines.

 

6. Inquiry into Gaps in Legislation – Update

The Committee noted a submission from the Equality Commission NI.

 

7. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft forward work programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to extend the time slots for the Christian Institute and Women’s Rights Network briefings on 12 February 2025 to 45 minutes each.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move the briefing from Ulster Human Rights Watch from 26 February 2025 to 19 February 2025 and to invite Decorum NI on that date.

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

 

8. Correspondence

  1. The Committee noted the summary of Committee correspondence.
  2. The Committee noted correspondence from The Executive Office on a statutory rule and explanatory memorandum regarding the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the Draft Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.
  3. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance on the Budget 2025 – 2026 round robin exercise.
    The Chair advised the Committee that a briefing from the Department on 2025 – 2026 budget will be organised.
  4. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Economy on the North West Development Fund.
  5. The Committee noted correspondence from National Museums NI on their draft corporate strategy 2025 – 2030.
  6. The Committee noted correspondence from Investment Strategy Northern Ireland.
  7. The Committee noted a save the date notice for an Equality Commission Northern Ireland / IMNI Disability Forum event on 27 February 2025.
  8. The Committee noted correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the British-Irish Council summit on 6 December 2024.
  9. The Committee noted correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on a notice of intention to make a statement to the Assembly – Storm Éowyn.
  10. The Committee considered a response from the Police Service for Northern Ireland to the Committee’s correspondence for information on historical institutional abuse.
    Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Police Service for Northern Ireland Senior Responsible Officer for historical institutional abuse to the Committee.
  11. The Committee noted correspondence from the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
  12. The Committee noted correspondence from The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels.
    Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek an update from the Department on international relations
  13. The Committee noted correspondence from Pivotal.
  14. The Committee noted Correspondence from an individual regarding storm compensation from Northern Ireland Electricity.
  15. The Committee noted an invitation to a NSPCC event on 4 February 2025.
  16. The Committee noted a response from The Executive Office to the Committee’s correspondence for information on historical institutional abuse.
  17. The Committee noted a response from Survivors Together to correspondence the Committee shared with them.

 

9. Any Other Business

There was no other business.

 

10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 2.00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 2.10pm.

 

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office