Northern Ireland Assembly

In public session the Committee discussed a number of items of Committee business. The majority of the meeting took place in closed session.

The Committee received briefing sessions from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Fiscal Council Options; the Institute for Fiscal Studies on Fiscal Council Options and the Carnegie Trust on Public Sector Reform.

The Committee received a briefing by the Assembly Commission on New Decade, New Approach - Simultaneous Translation and a briefing by the Bill Office on Review of Private Members' Bills.

The Committee discussed the Draft Committee Motion - Restrictive Intervention & Seclusion of Children and Young People with Additional Support Needs and received a briefing from NIA Research and Information Service on Flexible School Starting Age .

The Committee received two briefings, first one on the Northern Ireland Local Government Association & SOLACE NI - EU Successor Funding and the second on the Construction Employers Federation – Review of Planning Act.

Departmental Briefing - High Street Voucher Scheme. Briefing from Department for Infrastructure – Regional Planning Issues.

The Committee received briefings on Estimate 2021-22 from representatives of the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.

Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs answers Members questions.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill answers questions put to her by fellow Members.

The Committee received briefings on the Climate Change Bill from Ms Clare Bailey, MLA; the withdrawal of DAERA andlocal authority staff from ports from Belfast City Council & Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council; and on Nature Friendly Farming from the Nature Friendly Farming Network.

In open session the Committee discussed a number of items of Committee business. The majority of the meeting took place in closed session.

The Committee received a briefing by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission on the implications of Brexit for Human Rights and a briefing by the Children's Law Centre on Children and Young People's Rights.

The Committee received Departmental briefings on 2021-22 Department of Justice Final Budget Allocations and New Three-year Victims and Witnesses Strategy for Northern Ireland and the Establishment of a Victims of Crime Commissioner for Northern Ireland - Proposed Consultation.

The Committee discussed NIAO Main Estimate 2021-22, Memorandum of Reply and Ministerial Direction with representatives of the Northern Ireland Audit Office.

The Committee received a Departmental Briefing on 2021/2022 Final Budget Outcome and a briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill from the Health and Social Care Board. The Committee also received briefings on the latest Coronavirus Health Protection regulations.

The Committee received Departmental briefings on the Final Budget 2021-22; the Impact of Budget 2021-22 on departmental spending; and Reform of Property Management Programme. The Committee also received a briefing from Queen's University Belfast on Public Sector Reform.

The Committee received an evidence session with Junior Ministers Gordon Lyons and Declan Kearney on Brexit Issues and a briefing by Mark Bassett and Professor Colin Harvey on the EU and Irish Unity.

The Committee received a Departmental Briefing on the Budget position update and a Briefing on Economic Impact by Research and Information Service (RaISe) . The Committee also discussed the Energy Strategy Consultation.

The Committee received a Departmental Briefing - Living with Water in Belfast. The Committee also discussed Statutory Legislation on Trunk Road T4 Loughbrickland to Hillsborough (A1 Junctions Phase 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 and The Trunk Road T2 (Ballynahinch Bypass) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021.

The Committee meet in formal session on 28 April 2021 at 9.30am when they received the following oral briefings: Budget 2021-22 – Department of Education Youth Engagement – Professor Lundy, QUB and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Parents’ views on Education during the 2021 Lockdown – Parentkind and the Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement

In open session the Committee discussed All Party Groups. The majority of the meeting took place in closed session.

Justice Minister Naomi Long answers Members questions during Question Time.

Minister of Health Robin Swann answers Members questions during Question Time.

Minister of Health Robin Swann answers Members questions.

The Committee received a number of briefings in relation to its Inquiry into Generating Electricity from Renewable Energy.