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AD HOC COMMITTEE
DRAFT CRIMINAL DAMAGE (COMPENSATION)
(AMENDMENT) (NI) ORDER 2008

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2008
ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Peter Weir, Chairperson
Mr Alban Maginness
Dr Stephen Farry
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Raymond McCartney
Mr David McNarry
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr John O’Dowd
Mr Declan O’Loan
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
Mr David Simpson
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Attendees:
Mr Kevin Shiels, Committee Clerk
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor, Clerk
Mr Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk
Mr Lindsay Dundas, Clerical Officer

3.04pm the meeting opened in public session.

  1. Apologies

There was an apology from Mr D Simpson, that he would be unable to attend the beginning of the meeting but would join later.

The Chairman welcomed Mr David McNarry as a replacement for Mr Tom Elliott on the Committee.

  1. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2008

Agreed – The draft minutes were agreed.

  1. Matters Arising

3.1 The Chairperson invited Members to declare any amendments to the Register of Members’ Interests via the Clerk.

3.2 Members noted that a Press Notice from the Committee would be published in the media on Wednesday 24th September 2008 seeking comments by Monday 6th October 2008.

3.3 The Chairperson advised Members that a Press Release about the Committee’s work had also been drafted and would be issued on 24th September.

  1. Evidence Session

The Chairperson welcomed the following Officials and invited them to brief the Committee:

Brian Grzymek – Deputy Director Criminal Justice Services, NIO
David Kyle - Criminal Justice Services, NIO
David Hamill – Criminal Justice Services, NIO
James McKay – NIO Legal Advisors Branch
Henry Spence – Land and Property Services, DFP
Ray Jones – Head of Operations, Compensation Agency

The Officials briefed the Committee on the provisions of the draft Order. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Simpson joined the meeting at 3.32pm
Mr O’Dowd left the meeting at 3.52pm.

Agreed: Mr Spence, DFP, agreed to provide the Committee Clerk with information on the number and category of halls that had gained exemption from rates under the provisions of Article 41 (2)(e) or Article 41A of the Rates (NI) Order 1977.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for the briefing.
The Officials left the meeting at 4.16pm.

  1. Any other business

Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should send a letter to the Ancient Order of Hibernians inviting representatives to give oral evidence to the Committee. It was agreed that the Clerk should also consider seeking evidence from insurance companies/brokers who may provide cover for some of the other bodies listed for the purposes of Article 41A.

  1. Date and time of next meeting

The Committee agreed that it would meet on Tuesday 30 September 2008 at 3pm in Room 135.

Future meetings are as follows:

Tuesday 7 October 3pm
Wednesday 14 October 3pm

4.24pm the Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Mr Peter Weir MLA
Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee
30 September 2008