ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE

Minutes of Proceedings
TUESDAY, 8 JANUARY 2008
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alan McFarland
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr George Robinson

In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sinead Nash (Assistant Clerk)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Officer)
Ms Annette Page (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr John O’Dowd

The meeting opened at 11:14am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 18 December 2007

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2007.

3. Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice

3.1 Evidence session with the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, and Deputy Chief Constable, Mr Paul Leighton

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

• Member, Her Majesty’s Privy Council
• Member , Northern Ireland Policing Board

Ian McCrea:

• Member, Cookstown District Policing Partnership

 11:20 Nelson McCausland joined the meeting

Members heard evidence from the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, and Deputy Chief Constable, Mr Paul Leighton. The session was recorded by Hansard.

11:57 Danny Kennedy left the meeting

3.2 Invite to OFMdFM

Members noted the letter from OFMdFM received on Monday 7 January declining the Committees request to attend today’s meeting.

Agreed: That this matter be considered later in the meeting following the discussion with the NIO.

3.3 Evidence session with officials from the NIO

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

• Member, Her Majesty’s Privy Council
• Member, Northern Ireland Policing Board

Ian McCrea:

• Member, Cookstown District Policing Partnership

Members heard evidence from NIO officials Clare Salters and Peter May. This session was recorded by Hansard.

3.4 Letter from OFMdFM

1.02pm The meeting was held in private session

Members discussed the letter received from OFMdFM on 7 January.

1.15 George Robinson left the meeting
1.15 Nelson McCausland left the meeting

Agreed: That the Chair and deputy Chair would seek an urgent meeting with the Special Advisors to the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and report the outcome to the Committee at the meeting scheduled for 15 January.

1.47pm The meeting was held in public session

4. Chairperson’s Business

4.1 Party papers relating to the Inquiry into the transfer of policing and justice matters

Members noted the 9 January deadline for the submission of party discussion papers.

Agreed:

That next week’s agenda will include:

• Final discussions on the ‘matters to be transferred’.
• Discussion on structure and accountability based on the organisational arrangements as set out in the NIO Letter of 15 October 2007.

Agreed:

• That parties might choose to delay the submission of the discussion papers until further Committee deliberations have taken place on structure and accountability.
• That part of the discussions on the Inquiry into the transfer of policing and justice matters should be held in private session.

4.2 NI Affairs Committee lunch

Members were reminded of the lunch meeting arranged with the NI Affairs Committee from 1-2pm on Thursday 17 January in the Commonwealth Room.

4.3 Committee on the Administration of Justice

Members noted the letter from the CAJ received on 20 December reaffirming their desire to give oral evidence to the Inquiry.

Agreed: That the Clerk respond to the CAJ thanking them for their interest in the Inquiry, explaining the Committee’s time constraints, and suggesting that any additional information might be provided by way of a further written submission to the Committee.

5. Matters Arising

5.1 Judiciary of England and Wales: Accountability

Members noted the paper at tab 5 of their packs by the Judiciary of England and Wales on ‘the accountability of the Judiciary’ as recommended by Lord Justice Thomas.

Members noted the transcript of a lecture by Professor V Bogdanor referred to in the Judiciary paper.

Agreed: That Members discuss these papers as part of the party discussions on governance and accountability.

5.2 Future powers of the army to operate in support of the police

Members noted the briefing paper at tab 6 of their packs and the attached NIO letter.

Agreed : That this matter will be addressed during next week’s meeting as part of the discussion on the ‘matters to be transferred’.

6. Members Draft Press Release

Members agreed the draft press release.

7. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 15 January at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.03pm.

RT HON JEFFREY DONALDSON, MP
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee

15 January 2008.

18 December 07 / Menu