ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 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 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)
Mr Victor Hewitt (Specialist Adviser)
Mr Stephen Pearson (Specialist Adviser)
Apologies:
Mr Danny Kennedy
The meeting opened at 11.04am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised Members that a meeting between the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, the Minister of the Environment, and the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Environment, about multiple mandates, had been scheduled for 2 March, 2009 at 3.15 p.m.
11.06 am Mr McCausland joined the meeting .
11.07 am Mr O’Dowd joined the meeting .
3. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 10 February 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 10 February 2009.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Medical Appeals Tribunal.
The Clerk advised Members that the budget for the Medical Appeals Tribunal was ‘de minimis’.
11.08 am MrPaisley Jnr. joined the meeting .
5. Correspondence
5.1 Members noted a letter from the Chairperson to the Secretary of State, which requested details of legislation relating to the devolution of policing and justice, which may be introduced in Westminster.
11.11 am Mr Alex Attwood joined the meeting .
5.2 Members noted a letter to the Director General, Mr Trevor Reaney, inquiring about possible arrangements, which the Assembly Secretariat may be making, in preparation for any request for devolution.
5.3 Members noted a letter to the State Pathologist requesting an urgent response to the Committee’s request for financial information.
5.4 Members noted a response to the Clerk of the Committee on Procedures, in relation to potential changes to Standing Orders.
5.5 Members noted a letter from the Secretary of State, dated 12 February 2009, in relation to memoranda of understanding and protocols.
11.14 am Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting .
11.14am Meeting moved into closed session.
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 Presentation by the Specialist Advisers, Mr. Victor Hewitt and Mr. Stephen Pearson.
Members noted a pack which contained information relating to written responses received from the organisations currently providing the range of policing and justice services in Northern Ireland.
11.16am Mr Hewitt and Mr Pearson joined the meeting.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Hewitt and Mr Pearson to the meeting and invited Mr Hewitt to brief the Committee.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
11.35 am Mr Simon Hamilton left the meeting .
6.2 There was some discussion in relation to the selection of witnesses who should be invited to give oral evidence before the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite:
- Legal Services Commission,;
- NI Court Service;
- The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;
- The Chief Constable, PSNI;
- NI Prison Service;
- Public Prosecution Service;
- Youth Justice Agency;
- Probation Board for NI;
- Forensic Science;
- Compensation Agency;
- NI Policing Board;
- Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust.
6.3 There was discussion in relation to the scheduling of Oral Evidence Sessions.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk should prepare, and circulate, a schedule of oral evidence sessions.
6.4 Briefing Paper 28/8/09 – Public Prosecution Service
Members noted a briefing paper relating to the Public Prosecution Service.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 24 February 2009 at 11.00am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20 pm.