ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2009
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr John O’Dowd
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)
Mr Victor Hewitt (Specialist Adviser)
Apologies:
None
The meeting opened at 11.05am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised Members of an acknowledgement from the Secretary of State’s Private Office, in relation to the Committee’s invitation to the Secretary of State to give oral evidence.
3. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 17 February 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 17 February 2009.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 State Pathologist.
The Chairperson advised Members that a response had been received from the State Pathologist, in relation to the Committee’s letter regarding the financial implications of devolving policing and justice matters.
5. Correspondence
5.1 Members noted a letter from the Chairperson to the Secretary of State, inviting him to give evidence before the Committee in relation to the Committee’s consideration of the financial implications of devolving policing and justice matters.
5.2 Members noted a letter to the various organisations selected to give oral evidence before the Committee in relation to its consideration of the financial implications of devolving policing and justice matters.
5.3 Members considered a response from Mr Trevor Reaney, Director General, in relation to the arrangements which the Assembly Secretariat is making in preparation for the devolution of policing and justice matters.
Agreed: Members agreed to invite the Director General of the Assembly to appear before the Committee to provide an update on the arrangements within the Secretariat for the possible devolution of policing and justice matters.
6.Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters
6.1 Prison Service – Oral Evidence Session
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
11.14am Mr Hamilton joined the meeting
Members heard evidence from the following representatives of the Prison Service:
Mr Robin Masefield
Mr Mark McGuckin
Mr Max Murray
Ms Anne McCleary
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
12.01pm Mr Hamilton and Mr Maskey left the meeting
12.02pm Mrs Hanna and Mr Spratt left the meeting
12.02pm The Deputy Chairperson (Mr Raymond McCartney) took the Chair
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing
12.18pm The Prison Service representatives left the meeting
12.18pm Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting
6.2 Youth Justice Agency – Oral Evidence Session
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, Members declared the following interests:
Nelson McCausland
- Member of Belfast District Policing Board
Members heard evidence from the following representatives of the Youth Justice Agency:
Mr Davie Weir
Mr Phil Tooze
Mr Gareth Bell
12.26pm Mr Spratt rejoined the meeting and took the Chair.
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, the Chairperson declared the following interest:
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
12.28pm Mr Kennedy left the meeting
12.32pm Mr Paisley Jnr rejoined the meeting
12.38pm Mr Maskey rejoined the meeting
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, Members declared the following interests:
Alex Maskey
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Ian Paisley Jnr
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing
12.48pm The Youth Justice Agency representatives left the meeting.
6.3 Any other business
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk should examine the possibility of a Committee visit to London and Edinburgh in the week commencing 4 May 2009.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 12.51pm.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 1.42pm with the following Members also present:
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson) Mr Alex Attwood Mr Simon Hamilton Mr Alex Maskey Mr Alan McFarland Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
6.4 Probation Board NI – Oral Evidence Session
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
Members heard evidence from the following representatives of the Probation Board NI:
Mr Brian McCaughey
Mr David van Der Merwe
Ms Cheryl Lamont
Ms Maura Canavan
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
1.56pm Mr Spratt left the meeting
1.56pm The Deputy Chairperson (Mr Raymond McCartney) took the Chair
1.57pm Mr Maskey left the meeting
2.14pm Mr Spratt returned and took the Chair
2.15pm Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing
2.23pm The Probation Board representatives left the meeting.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 3 March 2009 at 11.00am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.25 pm.