PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUBGROUP ON POLICING AND JUSTICE MATTERS

Minutes of the meeting held in part private / public session on Tuesday, 9 January 2007 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: William Hay

Present: Alex Attwood
Arlene Foster
Gerry Kelly
Danny Kennedy
Raymond McCartney
Ian Paisley Jnr

In Attendance: Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Neil Currie (Assistant Clerk)
Paul Woods (Clerical Officer)
Patricia Casey (Senior Researcher)

Observing: Richard Bullick (DUP researcher)
Ciaran Kearney (Sinn Féin researcher)
Michelle McDermott (Sinn Féin researcher)
Mark Neale (UUP researcher)

The meeting commenced at 12.00 noon in private session.

1. Apologies

Fred Cobain (Mr Kennedy attended the meeting as UUP representative in place of Mr Cobain)

Kathy Stanton (Mr McCartney attended the meeting as SF representative in place of Ms Stanton)

2. Declaration of Interests

Members declared the following interests:

The meeting moved to public session at 12.03pm

Mrs Foster joined the meeting at 12.03pm.

3. Evidence Session with the Secretary of State on his letter dated 28 December 2006 outlining a proposed Justice Minister Model

The Rt Hon Mr Peter Hain MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Northern Ireland Office officials, Ms Hilary Jackson and Ms Rachel Miller joined the meeting at 12.03pm.

The Secretary of State gave a brief overview of the proposed Justice Minister Model and the background to his letter of 28 December 2006.

The Secretary of State answered members’ questions on the proposed Justice Minister Model.

The Chairperson thanked the Secretary of State and officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.54pm.

4. Date of Next Meeting

The Subgroup will next meet at 10.30am on Thursday, 11 January 2007 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.54pm.

8 January / Menu / 11 & 15 January