ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 3 MARCH 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 Nelson McCausland
Mr Alan McFarland
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: Mr Alex Maskey
The meeting opened at 11.06am in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Specialist Adviser
The Specialist Adviser briefed Members on a joint supplementary paper by the Legal Services Commission and the Northern Ireland Court Service.
The meeting moved to public session at 11.15am.
3. Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson advised Members of a meeting he and the Deputy Chairperson had with the Minister for the Environment, and the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Environment, in relation to dual, and multiple, mandates.
The Chairperson reported that the Minister had indicated that he did not plan to legislate to end the dual mandate between the Assembly and local councils as he considered:
- it to be a matter for each political party to consider;
- that membership of the Assembly and a local council might be complementary;
- there may be a benefit in retaining experience at a time of reorganisation and change and;
- that, ultimately, the electorate would decide.
4. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 24 February 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 24 February 2009, as amended.
5. Private Member’s business
5.1 The Chairperson advised Members of the terms of a motion relating to dual mandates, which appears on the provisional order paper for Tuesday, 10 March 2009.
The Chairperson advised that he would speak, briefly, during the debate to record the Committee’s interest in the issue and any Member intending to speak in the debate should declare an interest as a Member of the Committee.
11.20am Mr Attwood joined the meeting.
5.2 Letters of thanks
Agreed: Members agreed that letters of thanks would be sent to those organisations who provided oral evidence to the Committee.
11.23am Mr Attwood left the meeting.
6. Devolution of Policing and Justice
6.1 Legal Services Commission – 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 heard evidence from the following representatives of the Legal Services Commission:
Mr Jim Daniell
Mr Gerry Crossan
11.34am Mr Paisley Jnr joined the meeting.
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, Mr Paisley Jnr declared the following interest:
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
11.44am Mr Attwood re-joined the meeting.
11.52am Mr Hamilton left the meeting.
12.18pm Mr Attwood left the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
12.28pm The Legal Services Commission representatives left the meeting.
6.2 NI Court 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:
Ian Paisley Jnr
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Members heard evidence from the following representatives of the NI Court Service:
Mr David Lavery
Ms Jacqui Durkin
Mr David Thompson
Mr Paul Andrews
12.39pm Mr Attwood returned.
12.42pm Mr Hamilton returned.
1.00pm Mr McCausland joined the meeting.
In relation to the issue of the devolution of policing and justice matters, Mr McCausland declared the following interest:
- Member of Belfast District Policing Board
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
1.14pm Mr Hamilton left the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing
1.51pm The NI Court Service representatives left the meeting
1.51pm Mr Attwood left the meeting.
7. Correspondence
7.1 Members noted a letter to the Director General inviting him, or the Director of Clerking, to appear before the Committee to update Members on the arrangements within the Secretariat for the possible devolution of policing and justice matters.
Agreed: Members agreed, in principle, to invite the Director General, or the Director of Clerking, to update the Committee at the meeting on 31 March 2009.
7.2 Members noted the terms of a letter from the Department of Finance and Personnel to the Clerk of the Committee for Finance and Personnel, and which had been referred to the Committee.
7.3 Members noted a copy of the Northern Ireland Bill, which had been sent by the Secretary of State.
8. Visits to other legislatures
Members noted information relating to proposed visits by the Committee to other legislatures.
Members noted that the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights might be undertaking a visit to Belfast on 30 and 31 March, and that a joint meeting of the two Committees might be possible on the evening of 30 March 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk should prepare an alternative paper based on one day visits to Westminster, Edinburgh and Dublin to assist the Committee with its consideration of matters relating to the devolution of policing and justice.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 10 March 2009 at 11.00am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.02 pm.