Membership of the Employment and Learning Committee^* 1999-2002

The Employment and Learning Committee was established to "advise and assist" the Minister of Employment and Learning. The Committee provided a system of checks and balances and allowed Assembly members to question Ministers on policy matters. It operated during those periods from November 1999 until October 2002 when devolved power in Northern Ireland was fully operational. The two most senior figures on the Committee were the Chair and Deputy Chair.

Employment and Learning Committee^* 1999-2002

• Chairperson: Dr Esmond Birnie (UUP)
• Deputy Chairperson: Mr Mervyn Carrick (DUP)
• Dr Ian Adamson⁵ (UUP)
• Mrs Joan Carson⁶ (UUP)
• Mr Michael Coyle⁴ (SDLP)
• Mr John Dallat (SDLP)
• Ms Michelle Gildernew³ (SF)
• Mr David Hilditch¹ (DUP)
• Mr Roger Hutchinson⁷ (DUP)
• Mr Barry McElduff² (SF)
• Mr Ken Robinson (UUP)

Changes Relating to the Employment and Learning Committee^* 1999-2002
¹ Mr David Hilditch replaced Mr William Hay as a member of the Committee from 27 May 2002.
² Mr Barry McElduff replaced Mr John Kelly as a member of the Committee from 1 July 2002.
³ Ms Michelle Gildernew replaced Ms Mary Nelis as a member of the Committee from 1 July 2002.
⁴ Mr Michael Coyle replaced Mr Arthur Doherty as a member of the Committee from 16 September 2002. Mr Arthur Doherty had replaced Mr Joe Byrne as a member of the Committee from 20 May 2002.
⁵ Dr Ian Adamson replaced Mr Roy Beggs as a member of the Committee from 15 April 2002.
⁶ Mrs Joan Carson replaced Rev Robert Coulter as a member of the Committee from 11 September 2000.
⁷ Mr Roger Hutchinson sat as a DUP MLA from 1 April 2002.

Dates and Meetings of the Employment and Learning Committee^* 1999-2002
Dates and Meetings of the Employment and Learning Committee^* 1999-2002 can be found at the following links:
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/highereduc/employmin.htm
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/highereduc/minutes/employmin_archived.htm

^* The Department for Employment and Learning was formerly known as the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. This change in title took place from 20 July 2001.