INQUIRY INTO THE DEVOLUTION OF POLICING AND JUSTICE MATTERS

The Assembly and Executive Review Committee met today to hear from Mr PJ Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of the Irish Court Service, and Professor John Jackson, Queen’s University Belfast with regard to the ‘Inquiry into the devolution of policing and justice’.

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

“The Committee had asked for a briefing from the two ‘expert witnesses’ to inform its consideration of the governance and accountability mechanisms which might apply in any new department of policing and justice”.

Mr Donaldson also confirmed that the Committee would be hearing from the Chief Constable, the NIO, and officials from OFMdFM on 8 January.

The Committee is required 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 Assembly and Executive Review Committee is a Standing Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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 meets 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.