ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Jimmy Spratt (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Nigel Dodds
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
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 10.21 am in public session.
1. Apologies
Mr Danny Kennedy
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr John O’Dowd
2. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 24 November 2009
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 24 November 2009.
3. Matters Arising
Members noted the clarification on the use of certain terminology.
Members noted that the Committee Clerk will present a proposed structure for the Committee’s Report at the meeting next week.
Members noted that the Committee Clerk will present a first draft of the Finance Section of the Committee’s Report at the meeting next week.
Members noted that there had been no response from John Larkin QC regarding the invitation to appear before the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk should make further contact with John Larkin QC to invite him to meet, informally, with the Committee, or to meet with the Committee in closed session.
Members discussed a letter, tabled, from the Secretary of State that stated that it was his intention to share at least some of the MoUs, Protocols and Concordats with the Committee by 9 December 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerk should contact officials in the NIO to request that it would be more helpful if the documents were made available in time for intial consideration at the Committee’s meeting on 8 December 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider the need for further Committee meetings prior to Christmas recess at the meeting next week.
10.29 am Mr McFarland joined the meeting.
4. Correspondence – outgoing/incoming
Outgoing correspondence
Members noted the following correspondence
- the original letter to John Larkin QC inviting him to appear before the Committee to discuss issues in respect of the role of the Attorney General.
10.31 Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting.
Incoming correspondence
Members noted the following correspondence
- an acknowledgement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that the Committee’s letter about MoUs, Concordats and Protocols (and information provided in closed session) is under consideration.
10.32 Mrs Hanna joined the meeting.
5. Contractual arrangements with the Specialist Adviser
Members discussed a paper presented by the Committee Clerk outlining the contractual arrangements with the Specialist Adviser.
Agreed: Members agreed to the payment of the outstanding cost of the contract on receipt of an appropriate invoice from the Specialist Adviser, up to a maximum total cost of £19,975.
6. Request from the Committee on Finance and Personnel.
Members considered a reply, drafted by the Committee Clerk, to the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s request for clarification on the remit of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee in respect of financial matters relating to the devolution of policing and justice matters and requesting an update on that work.
Agreed: Members agreed that reply should be sent, as drafted.
7. Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters – Category Two list of issues
10.41 Mr Dodds joined the meeting
The Chairperson declared the following interest:
- 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
This session was recorded by Hansard.
Committee Briefing Paper 11/08/09 – Twenty-fifth Revision – Consideration of the Category Two List of Issues
Members considered the Category Two List of Issues and reported no change to previously stated positions.
8. Chairperson’s Business
None.
9. Any other business
None.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 8 December 2009 at 11.00 am, in Room 21, initially in public session.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 10.46 am.