PRESS RELEASE

08 April 2008

AER 19- 07/08

ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE

The Assembly and Executive Review Committee met today with Mr Jimmy Spratt succeeding Rt. Hon. Jeffrey Donaldson MP as the Chairperson.

The Committee discussed the forward work programme and agreed the focus of its attention should be the issue of multiple mandates.

The Committee decided to invite the political parties to submit revised position papers on the issue of multiple mandates, to take particular account of the recent announcement in relation to the Review of Public Administration and the proposal for 11 Councils. The Committee also proposes to consider the merit of investigating how the issue of multiple mandates is dealt with in other jurisdictions.

The Committee agreed a revised forward work programme and will meet on a fortnightly basis.

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:	Mr Jimmy Spratt
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:
Debra Savage or Stephanie Mallon
Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office,
Room B2, Parliament Buildings,
Belfast BT4 3XX.
Telephone 028 90521137.
Fax 028 90521961.