ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 13 JANUARY 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Paula McManus (Clerical Officer)
Miss Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr John O’Dowd
Mr Danny Kennedy
The meeting opened at 11.03am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 6 January 2009
Members noted the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 6 January 2009.
3. Matters arising
The Chairperson reminded Members of the Committee’s decision to distribute copies of the Committee’s Report, under embargo, to members of the Stormont Correspondents Association.
Agreed: Members agreed to a number of additions to the distribution list for the Committee’s Report.
Agreed: Members agreed that copies of the Committee’s Report would be distributed, under embargo, to all Members of the Assembly, not sitting on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, later today.
Agreed: Members agreed that copies of the Committee’s Report would be distributed, under embargo, to all other recipients on Monday 19 th January 2009.
4. Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, the Chairperson declared the following interests:
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
The Chairperson invited Members to declare their relevant interests.
Members declared the following interests:
Nelson McCausland
- Member of Belfast District Policing Partnership
Alex Maskey
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Ian Paisley Jnr
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Agreed: Members agreed to continue the practice of extending ‘observer status’ to those parties represented in the Assembly, but not currently sitting on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.
4.1 Committee Briefing Paper 22/08/09 – Draft Forward Work Programme
Agreed: Members considered, and agreed, a draft forward work programme, but acknowledged that it was subject to refinement.
There was some discussion on the issue of the First Minister and deputy First Minister appearing before the Committee.
On a proposal from Mr Attwood that:
“This Committee suggests that the First Minister and deputy First Minister appear before the Committee on either 27 January or 3 February.”
Question put: That this Committee suggests that the First Minister and deputy First Minister appear before the Committee on either 27 January or 3 February.
The Committee divided, Ayes 3; Noes 6.
| Ayes | Noes |
| Alex Attwood Carmel Hanna Alan McFarland |
Jimmy Spratt RaymondMcCartney Simon Hamilton Nelson McCausland Alex Maskey Ian Paisley Jnr |
The proposal accordingly fell.
On a proposal from Mr Paisley Jnr that:
“That this Committee writes to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to advise them that it intends to invite them to appear before the Committee, once it is ready to discuss the Category Two List of Issues.”
Question put: That this Committee writes to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to advise them that it intends to invite them to appear before the Committee, once it is ready to discuss the Category Two List of Issues.
The Committee divided, Ayes 7; Noes 0; Abstentions 2.
| Ayes | Abstentions |
| Jimmy Spratt RaymondMcCartney Simon Hamilton Nelson McCausland Alan McFarland Alex Maskey Ian Paisley Jnr |
Alex Attwood Carmel Hanna |
Agreed: Members agreed not to commence consideration of the Category Two List of Issues until the next meeting of the Committee.
4.2 Appointment of a Specialist Adviser
Agreed: On a recommendation from the Chairperson, Members agreed to suspend the meeting, following discussions on the substantive items on the agenda, in order to facilitate a meeting of the Sub-Committee.
5. Correspondence
5.1 Members noted a response from the Chairperson to the Secretary of State’s letter of the 14 December 2008.
5.2 Members noted draft letters to the NIO and other organisations, currently providing the range of policing and justice services in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed the terms of the letters.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Specialist Adviser should be given an opportunity to comment on the draft letters.
Agreed: Members agreed that any amendments to the draft letters should be relayed to Members and that the deadline for receipt of responses should be 6 February 2009.
5.3 Members noted a response from the Clerk of the Committee for Finance and Personnel, to the Committee letter of 10 December 2008.
6. Private Members’ Business
Members considered a memo from the Committee Clerk on the Private Members’ Business scheduled for the 19 January, which included the motion:
“That this Assembly recognises the importance of ensuring that the maximum amount of public spending is directed at frontline services; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals to reduce the number of government Departments.”
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk would seek advice on whether the Committee could propose an amendment to the motion.
7. Any other business
7.1 There was some discussion on the merits of writing to the Security Minister, Mr Paul Goggins, M.P, to ask him:
- When does he anticipate legislation will be tabled in the House of Commons, arising from the Committee’s Report?
- Are there any matters, in the view of the NIO, which require to be concluded in order to be included as part of the legislation?
Agreed: Members agreed to return to the issue.
7.2 There was some discussion on the issue of how long the debate on the Committee’s First Report on the Arrangements for the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters, should last but there was no consensus within the Committee on the preferred duration of the debate.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 11.55am.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting, in public session, at 2.04pm with the following Members also present:
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson) Mr Simon Hamilton Mrs Carmel Hanna Mr Alex Maskey Mr Nelson McCausland Mr Alan McFarland Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
8. Appointment of a Specialist Adviser
The Chairperson reported the outcomes from the Sub-Committee meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed the recommendation of the Sub-Committee on the appointment of a Specialist Adviser.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk would inform the successful candidate and provide feedback to the unsuccessful candidate.
Agreed: Members agreed that Hansard would cover future meetings of the Committee which would deal with the Category Two List of Issues.
Agreed: Members agreed to meet for as long as necessary each week to consider the Category Two List of Issues.
9. Private Members’ Business
Members returned to the issue of Private Members’ Business scheduled for 19 January 2009
and noted guidance on the ‘rule of anticipation’, and arrangements for tabling amendments to motions.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson would speak in the debate, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to assert the Committee’s interest in relation to any proposals which related to reducing the number of Government Departments (Item 6 above refers).
10. Any other business
There was some further discussion on the merits of writing to the Security Minister (Item 7 above refers).
Agreed: Members agreed that there was no need, at this stage, to correspond with the Security Minister other than to supply him with a copy of the Committee’s Report, under embargo.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 11.00am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.17pm.