Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2007
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr John O’Dowd
Mr George Robinson

In Attendance: Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sinead Nash (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Michael Johnston (Clerical Officer)
Ms Annette Page (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Ian McCrea
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín

The meeting opened at 11:10am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 11 December 2007

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2007.

3. Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

3.1 Expert witness session with Mr PJ Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of the Irish Court Service

Members heard from Mr PJ Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of the Irish Court Service. The session was recorded by Hansard.

11.24 Alan McFarland joined the meeting
11.24 Danny Kennedy joined the meeting

3.2 Expert Witness session with Professor John Jackson, Queen’s University Belfast

Members heard from Professor John Jackson, Queen’s University Belfast. The session was recorded by Hansard.

12.25 Danny Kennedy left the meeting

3.3 Judicial Accountability

Members noted the paper at tab 3 of their packs by the Judiciary of England and Wales on ‘accountability’.

Agreed: That this paper will be considered at the next meeting on 8 January.

4. Chairperson’s Business

12.28 The meeting was held in private session

4.1 Inquiry into the devolution of policing and justice

Members noted the letter from OFMdFM received on 14 December.

Agreed: That officials from OFMdFM would be invited to the Committee meeting on 8 January.

1.15 Danny Kennedy joined the meeting

1.17 The meeting was held in public session

4.2 NI Affairs Committee lunch

Members were reminded of the lunch meeting arranged with the NI Affairs Committee from 1-2pm on Thursday 17 January in the Commonwealth Room.

5. Matters Arising

5.1 NI Affairs Committee: NIPS Recommendations

Members noted the conclusions and recommendations of the NI Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Northern Ireland Prison Service at tab 4 of their packs.

5.2 NIO letter

Members noted the letter received from the NIO clarifying the issues raised by the Committee regarding the ‘future powers of the army to operate in support of the police’.

Agreed: That this matter will be considered at the next meeting on 8 January.

6. Senior Salaries Review Body

Members noted the letter to all Assembly Members from the Chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body regarding pay, allowances and pensions.

Agreed: The terms of the draft letter (tabled) be forwarded to the Assembly Commission to explain the relevance of the Inquiry into multiple mandates with regard to this issue.

7. Draft Press Release

Members agreed the draft press release subject to amendment.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 8 January at 11.00am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.28pm.

RT HON JEFFREY DONALDSON, MP
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee
8 January 2008.

11 December 07 / Menu