ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mrs Carmel Hanna
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)
Mr Keith McBride (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Danny Kennedy
The meeting opened at 11:02am in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 16 October 2007
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2007.
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Matters Arising
3.1 Lunch with the NI Affairs Committee
The Chairperson reported on the matters discussed with the NI Affairs Committee and Members noted a letter of thanks from Sir Patrick Cormack, MP.
Agreed: That the Chairperson will respond to the letter and confirm that another informal meeting will be arranged before the Committee produces its final report into the devolution of policing and justice matters.
3.2 Multiple Mandates
Members noted that responses are still awaited from Sinn Féin and the SDLP.
3.3 Firearms
Members noted that a paper will be available for the next meeting regarding the extent to which firearms matters have been transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
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Chairperson’s Business
4.1 Publication of research papers
Members noted that the publication of Committee research papers was discussed at the last Chairperson’s Liaison Group, and that the decision on whether or not to publish research papers is a matter for each Committee.
Agreed: That the research papers produced for the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, by the Assembly’s Research and Library Service, should be published.
4.2 Written submissions to the Inquiry
Members noted that, of those organisations who were given a further opportunity to make a written submission to the Inquiry, including OFMdFM, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice, the Police Ombudsman and local academics, only SOCA and the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice had replied.
Agreed: That, in the continued absence of a submission from OFMdFM, the Chairperson should write to request a response on the following issues:
- Appointment of the Attorney General
- Efficiency Review Panel - Number of Departments/Ministers
- Responsibility for the Public Prosecution Service
and that the First Minister and deputy First Minister should also agree to meet with a Committee delegation (comprising the four parties) for the purposes of updating the Committee on the proposed establishment of the Efficiency Review Panel.
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Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice
The following interests were declared:
Jeffrey Donaldson:
- Member, Her Majesty’s Privy Council
- Member , Northern Ireland Policing Board
George Robinson:
- Member, Limavady District Policing Partnership
Ian McCrea:
- Member, Cookstown District Policing Partnership
5.1 Identification of a preferred ministerial model and procedures for filling the ministerial post/s for any new policing and justice department.
This session was recorded by Hansard.
5.1.1 Departmental model
Members discussed the Departmental model for any new policing and justice department.
Agreed: That a single departmental structure, on which consensus had been reached during the deliberations of the Committee on the Programme for Government, remains the position of parties represented on the Committee.
5.1.2 Ministerial Model
Members then proceeded to discuss the options for a Ministerial model.
Agreed:
- That the Clerk will prepare a paper which clarifies the legislative options for Ministerial models including the effect of the Justice and Security ( Northern Ireland) Act 2007 on the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006.
- That the matter of a Ministerial model should be the subject of further discussion.
- That the Clerk obtain a script of the statement from the Minister of Finance regarding the budget for Ministerial Departments.
12:21 Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting
5.1.3 Departmental Structure
Members proceeded to discuss matters relating to structure and noted the responses from the NIO (15 October), SOCA (18 October) and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in Scotland (22 October).
Members heard a presentation on the research paper regarding the Court Service models in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland and noted additional papers supplied by the Court Service and the Lord Chief Justice as well as the briefing paper on the Court Service in England and Wales.
12:32 Carmel Hanna left the meeting
Agreed:
- That a research paper be commissioned on the Court Service and Crown Prosecution Service model in England and Wales and how they might compare with any proposed model for Northern Ireland following devolution.
- That Members will review the responses from the NIO, SOCA and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in Scotland to establish the extent to which they consider they have sufficient clarification of earlier queries.
- That Members will report their views on the responses, referred to above, at the next meeting.
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Draft Press Release
Members agreed the terms of the press release.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 6 November at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.44 pm.