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ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE

Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alan McFarland
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr George Robinson

In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sinead Nash (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Michael Johnston (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr John O’Dowd

The meeting opened at 11:08am in public session.

  1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 20 November 2007

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2007.

  1. Chairperson’s Business
    3.1 NI Affairs Committee

Members noted that the NI Affairs Committee will be conducting and Inquiry into the administration of policing and justice in Northern Ireland and that the first stage will focus on:

11.12am Carmel Hanna joined the meeting

3.2 Expert Witnesses

Members noted that, in relation to the expert witnesses who have been invited to advise the Committee:

Agreed:

11.15am Danny Kennedy joined the meeting

3.3 Invitation from Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJI)

Members noted that the CJI will be holding a conference for stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System on 17 January under the theme of ‘the devolution of criminal justice in Northern Ireland’.

Members noted that the Chair has been invited to attend this meeting to “provide a perspective on the challenges that the devolution of policing and justice will pose”.

Agreed:

     

  1. Matters Arising

4.1 Multiple mandates

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

  • Member of the House of Commons
  • Member, Lisburn City Council

George Robinson:

  • Member, Limavady Borough Council

Danny Kennedy

  • Member, Newry and Mourne District Council

Carmel Hanna

  • Member, Belfast City Council

Ian McCrea:

  • Member, Cookstown District Council

Members noted the briefing paper at Tab 2 of their packs and the responses received to date from the parties on the issue of multiple mandates.

Members noted the briefing paper (tabled) which explains what the Committee has been asked to do in relation to this issue and the options for the phasing out of multiple mandates.

The Chairperson confirmed that he had tabled a series of questions at Westminster enquiring about plans the government might have to deal with the issue of multiple mandates.

Agreed:  

Ministers in local councils
MLAs in local councils
Members of the House of Commons in the Assembly
Members of the European Parliament in the Assembly

12.13pm Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting  

  1. Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

Ian McCrea:

George Robinson:

This session was recorded by Hansard.

5.1 Matters to be transferred

Members noted that there are five outstanding matters to be dealt with in relation to the ‘matters to be transferred’.

Members noted that responses are awaited from the NIO regarding two of the outstanding ‘matters to be transferred’; the powers of the army to act in support of the police, and the powers in relation to the misuse of drugs.

Agreed:

 

Members noted the briefing paper (tabled) setting out the options for the devolution of firearms.

Agreed:

5.2 Chief Constable, PSNI

Members noted that the Chief Constable will provide evidence to the Committee on 8 January 2008 at 11.15am in the Senate Chamber.

  1. Departmental structure

6.1 Party Papers

Members noted that a preparation pack was distributed on 7 November to assist parties in preparing papers on the governance and accountability issues raised in recent research papers.

Agreed:

  1. Draft Press Release

Members agreed the draft press release subject to amendment.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 11 December at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:31 pm.

RT HON JEFFREY DONALDSON, MP
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee
11 December 2007.

20 November 07 / Menu