All Party Assembly Group on Children and Young People
The last Assembly All Party Assembly Group was established following on from the then Executive’s (99-02) proposals for the creation of a Children and Young People’s Commissioner. The Group played a central role in informing and influencing the development of the Commissioner legislation. With the suspension of the Assembly in October 2002 the All Party Assembly Group ceased to operate.
However in March 2005 the Group was re-formed on an informal basis by then MLA Patricia Lewsley in response to concerns expressed by both politicians and the children’s sector regarding the ending of and cuts to vital children’s services. It was to provide a forum through which politicians and the children’s sector could jointly influence the direct rule administration on behalf of children and young people.
With the return of devolved Government in May 07 the All Party Assembly Group has been reconvened on a formal basis. Officers of the new All Party Assembly Group on Children and Young People are Roy Beggs MLA (Chair Person), Michelle McIlveen MLA (Vice-Chair Person), Mary Bradley MLA (Treasurer) and Naomi Long MLA (Secretary). All of the other political parties are also represented on the Group including Sue Ramsey MLA and Dawn Purvis MLA. Membership of the Group is open to all elected representatives in the new Assembly. Children in Northern IreIand (CiNI) as the umbrella body for the children’s sector continues to provide secretariat support to the Group. Organisations from the children and young people’s sector are welcome to attend the Group meetings to observe proceedings and, as appropriate and relevant to the Group’s agenda, will be invited to make presentations to the All Party Group on issues relevant to the children and young people whom they work with and for.
The Group has reviewed and updated its Terms of Reference and has also agreed on guidelines as to how it will work. It is currently developing a work plan and has invited the children’s sector to inform its development. The development of the Work Plan will be ongoing and if there are issues which you would like to feed in please contact the Chair Roy Beggs or the Secretariat.
MINUTES
AD-HOC SUB GROUP
ISSUES TO INFORM WORKPLAN
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MOTIONS
PRESS RELEASES
FUTURE MEETING DATES
ARCHIVE
REPORTS
