ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 19 MAY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Paula McManus (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr John O’Dowd
The meeting opened at 11.03am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Matters arising
2.1 Financial implications of devolving policing and justice matters
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that, in relation to the Committee’s letter to the organisations providing the range of policing and justice services, responses had been received from all of the organisations except:
- NI Judicial Appointments Commission
- NI State Pathologist
- PSNI Independent Assessor
Members noted that a copy of all responses had been forwarded to the Specialist Adviser.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that copies of the responses should be provided to Members, in advance of the meeting on 26 May 2009.
2.2 Visits to other legislatures
Members noted a tabled paper containing a draft itinerary for the Committee’s proposed visits to other legislatures.
11.07am Mr Attwood left the meeting
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk should seek to re-schedule the visit to Dublin, in the week commencing 22, or 29, June 2009, and to proceed with the visit programme for London and Edinburgh on 16, 17 and 18 June 2009.
3. Correspondence
Members noted a letter to the First and deputy First Minister, and which had been copied to the Minister for Finance and Personnel, indicating potential dates for them to attend a meeting of the Committee, for a presentation by the Specialist Adviser, in closed session.
Members noted a further letter to the Secretary of State in relation to Memoranda of Understanding and Protocols.
Members noted a response from the Minister for Finance and Personnel, to the Committee’s invitation to the presentation by the Specialist Adviser.
Members noted a response from the Correspondence Secretary at OFMDFM, advising that the Committee’s letter, in relation to the Efficiency Review Panel, was still under consideration.
4. Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters
4.1 Committee Briefing Paper 11/08/09 – Eleventh Revision – Consideration of the Category Two List of Issues
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, Members declared the following interests:
Nelson McCausland
- Member of Belfast District Policing Board
Alex Maskey
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Ian Paisley Jnr
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Members indicated that they had nothing further to report in relation to the Category Two List of Issues.
Agreed: Members agreed to return to the Category Two List of Issues at the next meeting of the Committee.
5. Independence and Accountability of the Public Prosecution Service
There was a brief discussion about the independence and accountability of the Public Prosecution Service.
Agreed: Members agreed to defer consideration of the issue until after the Committee’s visits to other legislatures.
6. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 26 May 2009 at 11.00am, in Room 144, Parliament Buildings, initially in closed session.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.21 am.