COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Tom Elliott MLA
Mr Paul Givan MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA
Mr John O’Dowd 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)
Apologies:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting commenced at 1.12 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 01 July 2010
Agreed: The Committee approved the draft minutes of the meeting of 01 July 2010.
3. Matters arising
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Justice in relation to questions raised during the briefing on the Department’s budget on 24 June 2010.
4. Departmental Briefing on the Budget 2010 Process
Anthony Harbinson, Director of Resources, Glyn Capper, Deputy Director, Finance Division and Sean Laverty, Head of Financial Planning and Control, joined the meeting at 1.15 pm.
The officials outlined the key points and issues in relation to the Department’s position in relation to the Budget 2010 process and answered questions from Members on issues including whether or not the Department of Justice Budget would continue to be ring-fenced in future years and the benefits/drawbacks of this, the prioritisation of the Department’s spending proposals and pressures and the timetable for finalising the Department’s financial position including consultation with key stakeholders.
During the question and answer session the officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
1.16 p.m. Mr Maginness joined the meeting.
1.58 p.m. Mr O’Dowd joined the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing.
5. Departmental Briefing on the September Monitoring Round
The officials briefed the Committee on the September 2010 In-year Monitoring proposals and answered questions from Members on issues including the process for dealing with the PSNI Hearing Loss Claims, access to the Reserve Fund and a breakdown of the additional Security Funding provided.
During the question and answer session the officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information.
2.36 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Justice noting the Monitoring Round proposals and requesting additional information.
The Committee discussed the briefing by Departmental officials on the Budget 2010 process.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice seeking further information and highlighting issues raised.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the need to discuss the spending proposals/pressures and savings with key stakeholders and this should be factored in to the Committee Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the NI Policing Board seeking its views/comments on the PSNI budget proposals/pressures.
6 . Departmental Briefing on the Legislative Implications of the McDermott Case
Gareth Johnston, Head of Justice Strategy Division, Maura Campbell, Deputy Director Criminal Justice Development, Tom Haire, Criminal Law Branch and Dr Maura Brisco, Director of Mental Health and Disability Policy, DHSSPS, joined the meeting at 3.00 pm.
The officials briefed the Committee on short term and long term proposals to change the law to address concerns in light of the McDermott Brothers Case and answered questions from Members on issues including the detail of the proposals, the situation that arose following the court case and the nature of an administrative error by the Courts and Tribunals Service that came to light during the briefing session.
During the question and answer session the officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information.
3.47 p.m. Mr Elliott left the meeting.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to give further consideration to the issues raised during the briefing at the next its meeting on 9 September.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send a copy of the Hansard of the briefing session to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue a Press Release on the matter.
7. Chairman’s Business
The Chairman advised the Committee that he and the Deputy Chairman would be holding an introductory meeting with the Prison Review Team on 6 September 2010.
8. Any Other Business
The Committee discussed the length of time some legal cases in relation to medical negligence were taking.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek information on the measures being taken to address this issue.
9. Date and Time of next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 9 September 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
Lord Morrow of Clougher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
9 September 2010
24 June 2010 / Menu
