Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

18 November 2005

Minutes of the Policy Development Committee

Friday 18^th November 2005

Present: Robin Wilson (Chair), Ward Erwin, Edwin Graham, Vivienne Pollock, Declan O'Loan

Apologies: Neil Jarman, Ann Anderson Porter, Roise Ni Bhaoill

In Attendance: Duncan Morrow, Dympna McGlade, Ali McAllister.

Minutes and matters arising

Minutes agreed as accurate.

No need to invite Wesley Wilson to speak at next Committee meeting.
R.P.A proposed response unanimously approved by Council and forwarded.
Interviews for both posts (Shared Future Officer & Policy Officer) Wed 23^rd November.
Research on G.R. in the Workplace – discuss at next meeting.
Thanks to Ward for short listing and agreeing to sit on forthcoming interview panel.

Shared Future Update, Duncan Morrow:

Overview progress or lack of on ASF
Government Triennial Plan moved to March'06
Implications for CRC Strategic Plan (2007) unclear at this stage
Also, implications for new proposed make up of CRC Council
Hoped new staff members of PD Programme will enable CRC to be key drivers of policy agenda of ASF.
Proposed Roundtable, January, “what can education do for ASF?”
Discussion about need for baseline figures for monitoring and education of ASF progress.

Issues highlighted:

CRC distancing from Government - maybe necessary in future
ASF needs to be user friendly
Media push needed by CRC

Government funding to PUL groups tends to be for intra relationship building with little or no cross community work or aims. At R. Putnam conference, Minister David Hanson mentioned several policies but not ASF

Questions have been asked and answered in DAIL re: ASF. This is coupled with questions being asked at local and Westminster level

Conference April 27^th – Crumlin Rd Jail. Hope to have ex-prisoners involved in tour. Keynote speaker: is journalist and author Kenan Malik

The workshop themes are to be linked to keynote speaker. The use of drama, art etc are to be discussed for inclusion. Further discussion's to follow. Ward, Vivienne, Dympna and Ali agreed to help organise event.

Meeting dates for next year will be forwarded to members and await feedback.

Due to delay in SF, committee members asked to remain. Dinner early January –Speaker? Brainstorm future developments? Key milestone in coming year?

AOB

Launch Case Study “Football for all” IFI 12^th December 10am (Linenhall Library).