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ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE

Minutes of Proceedings
TUESDAY, 15 JANUARY 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alan McFarland
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr John O’Dowd
Mr George Robinson

In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sinead Nash (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Annette Page (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened at 11:04am in public session.

  1. Apologies
  2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 8 January 2008

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2008.

  1. Chairperson’s Business

3.1 Senior Salaries Review Body

Members noted the response received from the Speaker regarding the Senior Salaries Review Body.

3.2 NI Affairs Committee Lunch

Members noted that a lunch has been arranged with the NI Affairs Committee on Thursday 17 January from 1-2pm in the Commonwealth Room.

  1. Efficiency Review Panel

Members noted the letter from OFMdFM at tab 2 of their packs regarding the Efficiency Review Panel and the role of the Committee in Strand 2 and 3 reviews.

Agreed: That the Clerk respond to OFMdFM reaffirming the Committee’s desire to be consulted on the terms of reference of the review and also noting that the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister may also have an interest in the review.

  1. Inquiry into the devolution of policing and justice

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

Ian McCrea:

5.1 Update from Chair and Deputy Chair regarding meeting with OFMdFM Special Advisors

11.17am The meeting was held in private session

Members received an update from the Chair and Deputy Chair regarding their meeting with OFMdFM Special Advisors on 14 January.

11.26 Carmel Hanna joined the meeting

11.26 Raymond McCartney joined the meeting

Agreed: That the Clerk write to the Head of the Civil Service, Mr Nigel Hamilton, inviting him to provide a briefing to the Committee on the preparations which are being made for the devolution of policing and justice.

11.36am The meeting was held in public session

5.2 Further discussions on matters to be transferred
5.2.1 Appointments to the Parades Commission and its operation

Members noted the briefing paper at tab 4 of their packs which provided a summary of the discussions which have taken place to date in relation to the Parades Commission.

Agreed:

5.2.2 Future powers of the army to operate in support of the police

Members noted the briefing paper at tab 4 of their packs which provided a summary of the discussions which have taken place to date in relation to the future powers of the army to operate in support of the police.

Agreed:

5.2.3 50:50 Recruitment to the PSNI

Members noted the briefing paper at tab 4 of their packs which provided a summary of the discussions which have taken place to date in relation to 50:50 recruitment to the PSNI.

Agreed:

5.3 Discussion on structure and accountability

Members noted the briefing paper (tabled) regarding the structural and accountability issues in relation to the current policing and justice organisations.

Members discussed the issues in relation to each policing and justice organisation in turn:

5.3.1 Northern Ireland Prison Service

Agreed: That the Committee was content with the NIO proposals for devolution of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

5.3.2 Forensic Science Northern Ireland

Agreed: That the Committee was content with the NIO proposals for devolution of Forensic Science Northern Ireland.

12.02pm John O’Dowd left the meeting

5.3.3 Youth Justice Agency

Agreed: That the Committee was content with the NIO proposals for devolution of the Youth Justice Agency.

5.3.4 Compensation Agency

Agreed: That the Committee was content with the NIO proposals for devolution of the Compensation Agency.

5.3.5 Office of the Police Ombudsman

Agreed:

5.3.6 Northern Ireland Police Fund

Agreed: That the Clerk will seek clarification from NIO on whether the funding comes from the policing budget or whether it is a separate arrangement.

5.3.7 Probation Board

12.12pm Danny Kennedy left the meeting

Agreed:

12.16pm Ian McCrea left the meeting

5.3.8 Northern Ireland Law Commission

Agreed: That the Clerk will draft wording to be included in the final report which will recommend that lines of communication be set up between any new Department of policing and justice and the NI Law Commission as soon as possible in order for the Department to input into the work programme of the Commission.

12.17pm John O’Dowd joined the meeting

5.3.9 Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel

Agreed: That the Committee was content with the NIO proposals for devolution of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel.

5.3.10 Parades Commission

Agreed: That the issues in relation to the transfer of the Parades Commission will be dealt with as part of the ‘matters to be transferred’.

5.3.11 Northern Ireland Policing Board

Agreed:

12.25pm Ian McCrea joined the meeting

That the party papers should address the following issues:

5.3.12 Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission

Agreed:

That the Committee should await the letter from the NI Legal Services Commission before considering

5.3.13 Judicial Appointments Commission

Agreed: That the Clerk develop wording for inclusion in the final report to support the recommendation of the Lord Chief Justice that it would be important for there to be a protocol between the Commission and the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding judicial appointments.

5.3.14 Judicial Appointments Ombudsman

Agreed: That the Committee was content with the NIO proposals for devolution of the Judicial Appointments Ombudsman.

5.3.15 Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland

Agreed:

5.3.16 Northern Ireland Court Service

Agreed:

That the party papers should address the following issues:

5.3.17 Public Prosecution Service (PPS)

Agreed:

That the party papers should address the following issues:

5.3.18 Other Issues

Agreed:

Attorney General

Following the briefing from the Head of the Civil Service:

SOCA and the Security Services

North/South Agreements

  1. Draft Press Release

Members agreed the draft press release as amended.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 15 January at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.03pm.

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

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