COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY, 21 JUNE 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Mr Tom Elliott MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr David McNarry MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
The meeting commenced at 1.24 p.m. in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2 . Briefing by the Minister of Justice
The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, MLA, Peter May, Director of Policing and Community Safety, and Ronnie Armour, Head of Policing and Organised Crime Division joined the meeting at 1.26 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Mr Richard Good, Special Adviser to the Minister of Justice and Mairaid McMahon, Private Secretary to the Minister of Justice could attend the briefing for note taking purposes.
The Minister of Justice provided a briefing on the current security situation, the recent murder of Mr Bobby Moffett and issues relating to pending parades and community interface areas. A question and answer session followed during which issues considered included; the threat from dissident Republicans and the PSNI response; recent attacks in border areas; the PSNI budget and available resources; programmes and projects to avoid violence at interface areas during the marching season; community support for the PSNI; and the role of the Minister for Justice in relation to parades.
During the question and answer session the Minister agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a number of matters.
The Chairman thanked the Minister of Justice and his officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
3. Any Other Business
The Chairman drew the attention of members to an invitation from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to a reception to celebrate the Intercultural Achievement Awards on Tuesday 22 June 2010 at 12.30p.m. in Parliament Buildings.
4. Date and Time of next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 24 June 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
2.17 p.m. The Chairman adjourned the meeting.