‘COMMITTEE HEARS ORAL EVIDENCE FROM ALLIANCE AND PUP’

The Assembly and Executive Review Committee, which is conducting an Inquiry into the transfer of policing and justice matters to Northern Ireland, heard today from the Alliance Party, the PUP and the Director of the Public Prosecution Service.

Speaking after the meeting today, the Rt. Hon. Jeffrey Donaldson, MP, Chairperson of the Committee said:

“The Committee was pleased to provide both the Alliance Party and the PUP with an opportunity to represent their views on matters relating to the devolution of Policing and Justice, including the structure of any new department and the timing and preparations for devolution”.

“The Committee also welcomed today the views of the Director of the Public Prosecution Service. The Committee explored a number of issues with the Public Prosecution Service including the future relationship with any new Department and the current preparations which the Public Prosecution Service is involved in with regard to devolution”.

The Committee is expected to report by February 2008 on the preparations which the Assembly has made, and needs to make, to facilitate the devolution of policing and justice matters.

Note for Editor:

The Northern Ireland Assembly has established a Standing Committee known as the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

Membership of the Committee is as follows:

Chairperson:	Rt. Hon. Jeffrey Donaldson, MP
Deputy Chairperson:	Mr Raymond McCartney
Committee Members:	Mr Alex Attwood
	Mrs Carmel Hanna
	Mr Danny Kennedy
	Mr Nelson McCausland
	Mr Ian McCrea
	Mr Alan McFarland
	Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
	Mr John O’Dowd
	Mr George Robinson

The Committee will meet in Parliament Buildings and visitors are welcome to attend open sessions. Members of the public are advised to check the website (archive.niassembly.gov.uk) for details of meetings prior to arriving at Parliament Buildings.

For further information on the work of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, please contact:

Sinead Lee
Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office,
Room B2, Parliament Buildings,
Belfast BT4 3XX.
Telephone 028 90521137/521396.
Fax 028 90521961.