Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

19 October 2010

Confirmed Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-FOURTH & EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2010 @ 2.30 p.m. IN THE STORMONT HOTEL, 587 UPPER NEWTOWNARDS ROAD, BELFAST BT4 3LP

2126/10 PRESENT:

Mr T McCusker, Ms E Gallagher, Mr E Oakes, Ms J Witherow, Ms S McDermott, Ms S McShane, Mr S Farry and Mr T Kennedy.

2127/10 IN ATTENDANCE:

Dr D Morrow [CEO], Ms J Irwin [Deputy CEO], Mr P Nolan [JRT Research], Ms G Attwood [P/O Policy Development Prof] and Ms D McGlade [PD/Policy Development Prog]

2128/10 APOLOGIES:

Hazel Francey, Hassan Mansour

2129/10 MINUTES:

Minutes of the previous meeting (29^th September 2010) will be circulated with these (19^th October 2010) at the November 25^th meeting.

2130/10 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN NI HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION & CRC:

This paper having been circulated at the end of September meeting were circulated again.

The memorandum was ratified by Council

2131/10 LIVE ISSUES CONFERENCE:

The Chair expressed the view that the conference had been an excellent mix of the appropriate organisations which had a wealth of community relations experience.

The Chair said thanked CRC staff for their hard work in making this conference a success.

2132/10 CSI RESPONSE :

The Chair thanked CRC staff, and especially the CEO, for their hard work in producing a good document. He also thanked Council members who had given of their time and made contributions to the response.

2132/10 CSI response continued: Action:

The following general points were made including emailed comments about CRC’s CSI response:

· say more on community development – Needs to be enlarged upon highlighting that CD has been a strong part of CR work has and will continue to be

· elaborate on the international context in relation to multiculturalism

· more references to the legal framework within all thematic areas. It was suggested that this be addressed in more specific detail at a later point via an addendum.

The executive summary was agreed by Council subject to some revisions and should be circulated as soon as possible.

Members were asked to have any final comments with staff by Wednesday 20 October.

Once the document is agreed then it should be proof read and formatted. Mr Nolan and Mr Kennedy agreed to do this work after the reorganization of footnotes and final update of current draft.

The response will be printed when finalized.

Concerns expressed about OFMDFM young people’s consultation which was thought to be inadequate in terms of enabling young people to have a voice.

Mr Byrne engaged in young people’s consultation event Wednesday 20 October which will produce a response

2133/10 COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY

The CEO and Chair had met Mr David Gordon (yesterday) to finalise the critical analysis of CSI article to be printed in tomorrow’s Belfast Telegraph.

It was agreed that CRC’s strategy to go public on its views later in the consultation was a wise one as CRC cannot be accused of influencing consultation responses to date.

The Chair reported on a very good meeting between CRC and DFA Minister Mr Micheál Martin and his officials.

Members agreed that it would be beneficial to seek a meeting with Secretary of State Mr Owen Patterson who has recently been talking about the cost of division.

It was agreed that the Policy Development Programme would try to arrange this meeting. PD Programme

2133/10 Communications strategy continued: Action:

CSI articles from:

Norman Hamilton

Billy Hutchinson

Peter Bunting

Joanne Stewart

Interfaith Forum

Bernadette McAliskey

Women’s Sector

It was agreed that Mr Mullan (Director Communications Programme)

would follow these up. R Mullan

2134/10 FIRST MINISTER & DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER:

The Chair and up to six Council members have been invited to meet with the First and Deputy First Ministers on Monday 25 October at 10am. A pre meeting will be held on the day of the meeting in the foyer of the Stormont Hotel at 9am.

The CEO would to email Council members re availability. CEO

2135/10 UNITE AGAINST HATE

The CEO told members that this organisation has had an effective campaign ongoing and will be seeking further support from CRC. It was also suggested that they should seek support from the One Small Step fund managed by CFNI.

The CEO would circulate a written to members for consideration. CEO

2136/10 HOUSING

DSD Minister Mr Alex Attwood is organising a fundamental review of housing. It was agreed that CRC should request a meeting with the Minister to discuss the importance of shared housing.

It was agreed that the Policy Development Programmewould follow this up.

PD Programme

2137/10 ANNUAL LEAVE

The CEO and DCEO advised that they would both be taking time off during the Halloween midterm break but that adequate cover had been arranged.

2138/10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

As previously advised, 25th November 2010 (in new Dungannon offices)