COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2010
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr Paul Givan MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
The meeting commenced at 3.05 p.m. in public session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Agenda item 5 - the planned briefing by the Department of Justice on DNA/Fingerprint Retention Policy - would be rescheduled for a future meeting.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2010
Agreed: The Committee approved the draft minutes of the meeting of 16 September 2010.
3.07 p.m. Mr McCartney left the meeting.
3. Matters arising
i. The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Justice providing an up-date on his proposals for the Justice Bill 2010.
Concerns were raised that no information had been provided to the Committee for Social Development on the proposal to include in the Bill additional powers to tackle promotional events for the sale of alcohol.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice on the matter and copy the correspondence to the Committee for Social Development.
ii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Justice regarding the review of the administrative processes of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service in relation to the Mc Dermott Brothers case
3.09 p.m. Mr Givan joined the meeting.
4. Departmental briefing on Desertcreat Training College
Peter May, Director of Policing and Community Safety, Robin Masefield, Director General, NI Prison Service and Catherine McCann, Policing and Community Safety Directorate joined the meeting at 3.10 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on the implications if the Desertcreat Training College was not pursued on a joint basis with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. A question and answer session covered a range of issues including the likelihood of the Health Department’s continued involvement in the project, the costs and options for the project, the possible impact of the Spending Review on the project and the likely terms of the construction contract including the inclusion of Social clauses.
4.00 p.m. Mr Givan left the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety outlining the implications if the Desertcreat Training College did not proceed on a joint basis as planned and seeking information on whether the Health Department intends to sell the Fire and Rescue Service’s current training facilities.
5. Overview Presentation on Civil Legal Aid Reforms by Legal Services Commission
Paul Andrews, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and Theresa Donaldson, Director of Civil Policy and Service Delivery, Legal Services Commission joined the meeting at 3.45 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Legal Services Commission’s role in administering and reforming civil legal aid and answered questions from Members on a range of issues including the reasons for the increase in LSC administrative costs, Very High Cost cases, the reasons for the increase in legal aid expenditure in both criminal and civil legal aid and proposals for increased use of mediation.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
6. Chairman’s Business
The Chairman advised the Committee that he and the Deputy Chairman had held an informative introductory meeting with the Director and Deputy Director of the Public Prosecution Service.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing by the PPS into the Forward Work Programme.
7. Correspondence
i. The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Justice regarding the publication of a consultation on the guidance on Bribery Prevention Procedures for commercial organisations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Justice requesting a briefing on the outcome of the consultation.
ii. The Committee noted the publication of a report by the Department of Justice on its response to the Special Measures consultation.
iii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Justice on the Lord Chancellor’s proposals for devolving the administration of (non-devolved) tribunals to Northern Ireland and Scotland and the creation of a single head of the courts and tribunals judiciary in England and Wales.
iv. The Committee noted the 2009/2010 Annual Report and Accounts from the Probation Board NI.
v. The Committee considered a letter from Ulster Rugby regarding the consultation on the Sports Law and Spectator Controls aspect of the Justice Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this information when considering the relevant clauses of the Justice Bill.
vi. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Environment in relation to a judicial review of draft PPS 5.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Minister of Justice.
vii. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Social Development regarding evidence from the PSNI on the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a copy of the Hansard of the PSNI’s oral evidence to the Committee for Social Development.
viii. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister requesting Departmental responses to the European Commission’s Communication on the Rights of the Child.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response received from the Department of Justice on the matter to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
ix. The Committee considered correspondence Mr Daniell, the Head of the Review of Access to Justice in Northern Ireland Team, providing information on the Review.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Review Team requesting a briefing on the scope of the review and the issues that it should address.
8. Any Other Business
None.
9. Date and Time of next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 30 September 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
4.15 p.m. The Chairman adjourned the meeting.
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
30 September 2010
16 September 10 / Menu
