ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 31 MARCH 2009
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
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:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Miss Paula McManus (Clerical Officer)
Mr Victor Hewitt (Specialist Adviser)
Apologies:
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Danny Kennedy
The meeting opened at 2.07pm in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Presentation by the Specialist Adviser
The Specialist Adviser briefed Members on the financial pressures relating to policing and justice.
3. Visits to other legislatures
Members considered proposed travel arrangements for visits to other legislatures.
Agreed: Members agreed that the visits should be organised for the week beginning 27 April 2009, and that the Clerk would provide further information on proposed travel, and other, arrangements.
4. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 24 March 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 24 March 2009.
The meeting moved to public session at 2.30pm.
5. Assembly Secretariat – Arrangements for the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters
Members considered correspondence from the Director General, and Director of Clerking, in relation to arrangements within the Secretariat for any request for devolution.
Agreed: Following discussion, Members agreed that the proposed meeting with the Director of Clerking should be held in closed session.
2.32pm Mr McCartney joined the meeting.
6. Short Term Forward Work Programme
Agreed: Members agreed the short term forward work programme, as amended.
The meeting moved to public session at 2.34pm.
7. Devolution of Policing and Justice
7.1 Secretary of State – 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
Members heard evidence from the Secretary of State and the following Northern Ireland Office representatives:
Ms Hilary Jackson
Mr Anthony Harbinson
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
3.32pm The Secretary of State and NIO representatives left the meeting.
8. Correspondence
8.1 Members noted letters to the PSNI and the NI Policing Board, which contained additional questions about the financial implications of devolving a range of policing and justice matters.
8.2 Members noted responses from:
- The Compensation Agency
- NI Court Service
- Legal Services Commission
- Probation Board NI
- Forensic Science
- PSNI
- Public Prosecution Service
- Policing Board.
9. Work Shadowing Placements – Disability Week
Members noted a memo from the Clerk to the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group relating to work placements during disability week.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 21 April 2009 at 11.00am, in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.34 pm.
Mr Jimmy Spratt
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee
21 st April 2009.