ADHOC COMMITTEE
DRAFT PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY (NI) ORDER 2009
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 01 JUNE 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Alan McFarland MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Apologies:
Mr Allan Bresland MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Denis Arnold (Committee Clerk)
Ms Ellis Haughey (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairead Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Joanne McCarter (Clerical Officer )
The meeting opened at 1.02 p.m. in open session.
1. Apologies
The apologies are detailed above.2 . Draft Minutes of 26 May 2009
The minutes of proceedings for Tuesday 26 May 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the updated list of Members interests. The Chairperson invited those Members who have yet to do so, to declare any interests and to forward this in writing to the Committee Clerk.
The Committee noted the Northern Ireland Office summary of responses received to their consultation on the regulating of the private security industry.
Members noted the Hansard extract of 18 May 2009 detailing the terms of reference of the Committee.
1.05 p.m. Mr McQuillan joined the meeting.
The Committee noted the extract from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Report on Organised Crime in Northern Ireland (2005-06).
4 . Research Presentation on the regulation of the private security industry in Northern Ireland
Miss Ruth Barry from the Assembly Research and Library Service, briefed the Committee on the draft Private Security Industry Act 2001(Amendment) (NI) Order 2009 and drew Members attention to the issues that arose in the Northern Ireland consultation paper in 2006. This was followed by a question and answer session.
5. Oral evidence session with the Northern Ireland Office
1.06 p.m Departmental officials joined the meeting.
Departmental officials, Mr Steven McCourt and Mr Gavin Greenlees, from the Northern Ireland Office briefed the Committee on extending the security industry authority regulation to Northern Ireland. A question and answer session followed.
Mr McCartney declared an interest as chairperson of Coiste na n-Iarchimí.
Departmental officials agreed to provide clarification on a number of issues.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
1.28 p.m. Mr Burns left the meeting.
Agreed – It was agreed to request that Minister Goggins come before the Committee.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
2.00 p.m Departmental officials moved to the public gallery to hear the next session at the invitation of the Chairperson.
6. Oral evidence session from the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade NI
2.01 p.m Representatives from the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade NI joined the meeting.
2.03p.m. Mr Burns rejoined the meeting.
Members took oral evidence Mr Colin Neill, Mr Philip McCann and Mr Stephen Magorrian representing the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade NI.
Dr Farry declared an interest as a Councillor in North Down Borough Council.
2.18 p.m. Mr Burns left the meeting.
A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.37 p.m Representatives from the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade NI left the meeting.
2.38 p.m. Mr McCartney left the meeting.
2.38 p.m Departmental officials rejoined the meeting.
The Chairperson recalled Departmental officials, Mr Steven McCourt and Mr Gavin Greenlees from the Northern Ireland Office, to address issues raised in the previous session.
2.39 p.m Departmental officials left the meeting.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to seek further guidance regarding interim arrangements for licensing.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
7. Chairpersons Business
The Chairperson informed Members that the public notice giving detail of the legislation was placed in the newspapers on Friday 29 May 2009.
8. Outline plan
Members were briefed by the Clerk on the outline plan for the report on the Private Security Industry (NI) Order 2009.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to seek an oral evidence session with Belfast City Council and North Down Borough Council at its next meeting.
9. Correspondence
None received.10. Any other business
None raised.
11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee will be held on Monday 8 June at 1 p.m. in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.49 p.m.