ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Simon Hamilton
>Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr John O’Dowd
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
In Attendance:
Mrs Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Paula McManus (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Carmel Hanna
The meeting opened at 11.07am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee had received responses from twenty four of the twenty six organisations approached for financial information relating to the devolution of policing and justice matters.
The Chairperson advised Members that the responses had been forwarded to the Specialist Adviser for analysis.
Members noted that responses were still outstanding from the State Pathologist, who had an estimated budget of £2.2million, and the Judicial Appointments Ombudsman, who had an estimated budget of £125,000.
Agreed : Members agreed that the Clerk should write to the State Pathologist to re-iterate the importance, and urgency, of responding to the Committee’s request.
11.10am Mr John O’Dowd joined the meeting .
The Chairperson advised Members that a response had been received from the Medical Appeals Tribunal, which asked the Committee to refer its inquiry to the Department for Social Development.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek clarification on whether any budget for the Medical Appeals Tribunal would be transferred from the Department of Social Development to the Courts Service.
The Chairperson advised Members that a pack containing all the responses, and a paper from the Specialist Adviser, would be provided to Members on Thursday, 12 February 2009.
Members noted that the Specialist Adviser would make a presentation on his findings, in closed session, on Tuesday, 17 February 2009.
Agreed : Members agreed that the session should be covered by Hansard.
2.2 The Chairperson reported on a telephone conversation held with Lord Ashdown in relation to his report on the Strategic Review of Parading, during which Lord Ashdown indicated that a publication date could not be confirmed due to additional evidence sessions taking place.
2.3 The Chairperson reminded Members of an earlier agreement by the Committee, for the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, in conjunction with the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Environment, to meet the Minister for the Environment to discuss matters relating to dual mandates. Members noted that the meeting would take place on 2 March 2009.
3. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 3 February 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 3 February 2009.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 The Chairperson reminded Members of a recent visit by delegates of the judiciary from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Parliament Buildings, and invited the Deputy Chairperson to brief the Committee on the subsequent meeting with the delegates.
The Deputy Chairperson made a brief presentation on the outcome of the meeting.
4.2 Members noted that a paper on potential Committee visits to London, Edinburgh and Dublin was being prepared by the Clerk.
5. Correspondence
Members noted a memo from the Clerk to the Committee on Procedures.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Clerk should respond to indicate that the issues raised would be dealt with in the Committee’s second report on the arrangements for the devolution of policing and justice matters.
11.22am Mr Paisley Jnr joined the meeting .
6.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
Members declared the following interests:
Alex Maskey
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Ian Paisley Jnr
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Nelson McCausland
- Member of Belfast District Policing Board
6.1 Briefing Paper 26/08/09 – Judicial Appointments Commission
Members considered a briefing paper on the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Secretary of State to seek clarification on potential legislation which may be introduced in Westminster, and to enquire if that legislation dealt with the future role of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in making judicial appointments.
11.25am Mr McCausland left the meeting.
6.2 Briefing Paper 27/08/09 – Appointment of the Police Ombudsman
Members noted a briefing paper on the Appointment of the Police Ombudsman.
6.3 Briefing paper 28/08/09 –Public Prosecution Service
The Chairperson advised Members that a briefing paper on the Public Prosecution Service would be circulated to Members on Thursday 12 February.
7. Any Other Business
11.31am Mr McCausland re-joined the meeting
There was some discussion about the arrangements the Assembly Secretariat might be making for devolution of policing and justice powers.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should write to the Director General to request a report.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.34am.