COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA
Mr Tom Elliott MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Roisin Donnelly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 2.04 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2010
Agreed:The Committee approved the draft minutes of the meeting of 13 May 2010.
2.06 p.m.Mrs Kelly joined the meeting.
3. Matters arising
i. The Committee noted copies of correspondence to the Department of Justice agreed at the meeting on 13 May 2010 .
ii. The Committee agreed to forward the response received from the Department of Justice in relation to availability of information on non-payment of fines for waste offences that have been tabled at last weeks meeting to the Committee for the Environment.
iii The Committee agreed to commission research into the Cost per Prisoner Place in Northern Ireland and other comparable regions.
iv The Committee considered correspondence from the Department of Justice seeking the views of relevant Assembly Committees on the proposed Tribunal Reforms.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the relevant Assembly Committees for comment.
2.09 p.m.Mr Elliott joined the meeting.
4. Departmental Overview Briefing on proposed Justice Bill
Gareth Johnston, Deputy Director, Justice Strategy Division, Geraldine Fee, Deputy Director, Criminal Policy Division, NI Courts & Tribunals Service (NICTS), Tom Haire,Bill Manager, Justice Strategy Division and Graham Walker, Criminal Policy Division, NICTS, joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
The officials provided a briefing on the proposed Justice Bill and answered questions from Members on a range of issues including: how much of the legislation was a replication of developments that had already been introduced in England and Wales and how much was specifically designed to address issues in the Northern Ireland Justice system; current Access NI timescales for dealing with applications; mechanisms for fixed penalties and consultation responses.
During the question and answer session officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
2.11 p.m.Mr Ross joined the meeting.
2.30 p.m.Mr McNarry joined the meeting.
2.54 p.m.Mr O’Dowd left the meeting.
3.01 p.m.Mr Donaldson joined the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing.
Geraldine Fee and Graham Walker left the meeting.
5. Justice Bill – Departmental Briefing on Policy Consultation on Special Measures to provide extra services to vulnerable witnesses or defendants
Brendan O’Mahoney and Norma Dempster of the Delivery Improvement Unit, Justice Strategy Division, joined the meeting at 3.06 p.m.
The officials provided a briefing on the Consultation on Special Measures to provide extra services to vulnerable witnesses or defendants and answered questions from Members on a range of issues including: how decisions are made about whether vulnerable witnesses appear in court and who makes these decisions and information on the consultation responses.
During the question and answer session officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information in relation to the consultation exercises.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing.
Brendan O’Mahoney and Norma Dempster, left the meeting.
3.25 p.m.Mr Ross left the meeting.
6. Justice Bill – Departmental Briefing on Policy Consultation on Sex Offender notification
Amanda Patterson and Stephen Cowan, Public Protection Unit, Justice Strategy Division, joined the meeting at 3.26 p.m.
The officials provided a briefing on the Policy Consultation on Sex Offender notification and answered questions from Members on issues including: information on consultation responses; clarification of the issue of three days residence in NI; and the current notification arrangements.
During the question and answer session officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.
The Committee placed on record its appreciation of the staff working in this area of the Criminal Justice System.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing.
Gareth Johnston, Tom Haire, Amanda Patterson and Stephen Cowan left the meeting.
7. Departmental Briefing on Proposed Reforms for Legal Aid in Northern Ireland
David Lavery, Director of Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service (NICTS) and Robert Crawford, John Haliday and Angela Ritchie, Public Legal Services Division, NICTS, joined the meeting at 3.41 p.m.
The officials provided a briefing on the Proposed Reforms for Legal Aid in Northern Ireland and answered questions from Members on a range of issues including: issues relating to Very High Cost Cases; a need for a review of the legal aid system; constraints of the legal aid budget; access to Justice issues; cases meriting two counsel and proposals to introduce a new means test for the grant of legal aid.
During the question and answer session officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.
Alban Maginness placed on record a declaration of interest in relation to his occupation as a barrister.
4.32 p.m.Ms Ní Chuilínleft the meeting.
4.37 p.m.Mrs Kellyleft the meeting.
4.46 p.m.Mr Donaldson left the meeting.
5.08 p.m.Mr McNarry left the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the Director of the NI Courts and Tribunals Service and the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed:Briefing sessions on specific aspects of the Legal Aid reforms should be scheduled into the work programme.
Agreed: Representatives of the Bar Council and the Law Society should be invited to attend the Committee to outline their views on the proposed reforms.
8. Chairman’s Business
The Chairman informed Members that he had met with the Chairmen of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, the Procedures Committee and the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First minister on 17 May 2010 regarding outstanding issues in relation to the Office and Role of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecution Service. It had been agreed that, given the devolution of policing and justice, the Assembly and Executive Review Committee would pass on consideration of these outstanding issues to the Committee for Justice who would consider in conjunction with the Committee on Procedures how the issues should be taken forward. A copy of a letter from Mr Spratt confirming this position had been tabled and a paper would be prepared on the relevant issues for consideration at a future meeting.
9. Correspondence
i The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Health Social Services and Public Safety regarding Desertcreat Training College.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Justice requesting confirmation in relation to funding for the Training College.
ii The Committee considered correspondence from Include Youth requesting an opportunity to brief the Committee on youth justice.
Agreed:The Committee noted the excellent work undertaken by Include Youth and agreed that an informal meeting with Include Youth representatives should be arranged to which members of the Committee would be invited to attend.
10. Any Other Business
None.
11. Date and Time of next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 27 May 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
5.26 p.m.The Chairman adjourned the meeting.
Lord Morrow of Clougher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
27 May 2010