Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

10 September 2004

Minutes of the P&D Committee Meeting

Friday 10th Sept 2004

(Ramada Hotel)

Present: Robin Wilson (Chair), Edwin Graham, Ward Erwin, Declan O'Loan, Vivienne Pollock, Neil Jarman, Nelson McCausland.

Apologies: Nial Fitzduff, Roise Ni Bhaoill, Ann Anderson Porter, Patricia O'Neill

In Attendance: Dympna McGlade, Jacqueline Irwin, David Russell, Ali McAllister, Peter Thompson.

Minutes of last meeting and matters arising:

Minutes read as accurate.

Newtownabbey Research

Dr Morrow and Ms McGlade are to meet with Newtownabbey Council on Wednesday 15th September.

Ms McGlade informed the meeting that there has been a lot of publicity around the research. CRC want to use it only for its intended purpose; to identify community relations problems within that area so that the council can address the issues highlighted.

Other research to be completed soon:

Larne

Limavady

Antrim

Cookstown

Armagh (will be a delay in this report)

The current issues report is identifying certain Council areas that need to be examined more thoroughly. CRO's from a number of Council's have approached CRC to conduct research in the same way that Newtownabbey was examined.

Hate Crimes

Website will now include:

Homophobia, Race, Disability, Hate crime.

The online forum will be taking responses for 6 more weeks. (www.tellparliament.com)

INCORE Conference

Draft report available for circulation

Update on P&D Programme work

Ms McGlade told the meeting that the next couple of months will be a busy period for the department. There are organisations waiting for CRC's response to their EQIA's. We currently have three waiting to be signed off.

The committee debated on how CRC should respond to EQIA's in the future. After discussion it was agreed that a document stating what CRC's general principles are should be formulated.

Ms McGlade asked the committee to forward any comments or views on the three EQIA's presented to them today as soon as possible.

Launch of Good Relations Framework

The launch of CRC's 'A Good Relations Framework' will take place on the 29th September 2004 at Belfast City Hall. Registration is at 9.30am

Review of the P&D Programme

The committee then moved onto the 1st yearly review session of the P&D Programme. The areas discussed were:

The work to date against our terms of reference
Identifying gaps or other future work
Discussing our modus operandi (e.g. invited speakers)

Committee membership

The committee agreed on the following actions:
To look at specific budget for committee (rapid response to current events i.e. research).
Produce document on broad principles of committee (to go to council).
To be committed to working on race relations for next three year.
To develop a core work plan – clear focus for coming year.

Next meeting: Friday 19th November 2004, 2pm - CRC