ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Nigel Dodds
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Raymond McCartney
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr John O’Dowd
In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Paula McManus (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 11.02am.
1. Apologies
Mr Ian Paisley Junior
2. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 06 October 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 06 October 2009.
3. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising
4. Correspondence – outgoing/incoming
Members noted letters to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Secretary of State and the First Minister and deputy First Minister requesting updates on outstanding issues. The letters also invite the Secretary of State (or his officials) and the First Minister and deputy First Minister to appear before the Committee.
Members noted a letter to the Prisoner Ombudsman declining her request to appear before the Committee.
Members also noted a letter to the Director of the Public Prosecution Service acknowledging information which he provided to the Committee.
Members noted a letter from Mr Jim Allister QC of the Traditional Unionist Voice in response to the consultation by the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on the Department of Justice Bill.
11.07 am Mr Dodds joined the meeting.
In the context of the Chairman’s most recent letters to the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Members discussed media reports of a letter from the Prime Minister to the First Minister and deputy First Minister about the financial aspects of the devolution of policing and justice matters.
This session was recorded by Hansard.
11.11 am Mrs Hanna joined the meeting.
On a proposal from Mr Attwood that:
“ This Committee writes to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request that the information shared to you by the Prime Minister be released to the Committee without delay.”
Question put : That this Committee writes to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request that the information shared to you by the Prime Minister be released to the Committee without delay.
The Committee divided. Ayes 6; Noes 3; Abstentions 1.
| Ayes | Noes | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Attwood | Raymond McCartney | Jimmy Spratt |
| Nigel Dodds | Alex Maskey | |
| Simon Hamilton | John O’Dowd | |
| Carmel Hanna | ||
| Danny Kennedy | ||
| Alan McFarland |
The proposal accordingly agreed.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister accordingly.
5. Devolution of Policing and Justice matters
Committee Briefing Paper 11/08/09 – Nineteenth Revision – Consideration of the Category Two List of Issues
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
The Chairperson invited Members to declare their relevant interests.
Members declared the following interests:
Alex Attwood
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Alex Maskey
- Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Members considered the Category Two List of Issues and reported no change to previously stated issues.
6. Consideration of SDLP Paper on the Public Prosecution Service
Mr Attwood provided an overview of the SDLP’s paper on the Public Prosecution Service.
Members noted that there were areas of the SDLP’s paper that may fall outside of the remit of the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed that Mr Attwood and the Committee Clerk would meet to identify the aspects of the SDLP’s paper which were within the Committee’s remit.
Agreed: Members agreed to examine the paper in order to consider it further at the Committee’s next meeting on 20 October 2009.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 20 October 2009 at 11.00am, in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.40 am.