COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 04 NOVEMBER 2010
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr Paul Givan MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín 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:
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
The meeting commenced at 2.05 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2010
Agreed: The Committee approved the draft minutes of the meeting of 21 October 2010.
3. Matters arising
i. The Committee considered a draft programme for the planned visit to the Young Offenders Centre at Hydebank Wood.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the visit programme.
ii. The Committee considered a Memorandum from the Department of Justice setting out the delegated powers contained in the Justice Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer the Memorandum to the Assembly Examiner of Statutory Rules for his views/comments on the delegated powers.
2.11 p.m. Mr Maginness joined the meeting.
iii. The Committee noted correspondencefromthe Minister of Justice outlining changes he had made to the make-up of the Review Team for the Review of the Youth Justice System in Northern Ireland following issues raised by the Committee.
iv. The Committee noted further information regarding the number of Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) made in Northern Ireland.
v. The Committee considered an up-dated Forward Work Programme and options for scheduling key work items including oral evidence sessions in relation to the Justice Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold oral evidence sessions in relation to the Justice Bill between 18 November and 16 December 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold the planned informal meetings on 29 November 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule extra meetings or longer meetings as necessary to progress other work items.
4. Briefing by Departmental officials on Budget 2010
Anthony Harbinson, Director of Resources, Glyn Capper, Deputy Director, Finance and Sean Laverty, Head of Financial Planning and Control joined the meeting at 2.27 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on the implications of the Spending Review and the initial budget priorities. A question and answer session followed covering issues such as the identified spending priorities; areas for savings; the costs of the proposed Desertcreat Training College; the position in relation to utilising EYF; the need for additional security funding for the PSNI and access to the Reserve; and the decision to be taken by the Executive on whether the Department of Justice budget would continue to be ring-fenced throughout the Budget 2010 period.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
3.23 p.m. Mr O’Dowd left the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
3.40 p.m. Mr Givan left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety requesting information on when the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety would be in a position to make a decision regarding the provision of funding for the proposed Desertcreat Training College on behalf of the Fire and Rescue Service.
5. Briefing by Include Youth, the Children’s Law Centre and NIACRO on the Review of Youth Justice
Koulla Yiasouma, Director, Include Youth, Paddy Kelly, Director, Children’s Law Centre, David Weir, Director of Children’s Services, NIACRO and Edel Quinn, Policy Manger, Include Youth, joined the meeting at 3.43 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on issues relating to the Review of Youth Justice. A question and answer session followed covering issues such as the Terms of Reference for the Review; the membership, size and expertise of the Review Team; the timescale for the completion of the Review and the available budget.
4.00 p.m. Mr O’Dowd rejoined the meeting.
4.40 p.m. Mr Givan rejoined the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice indicating that it supported the view that the composition and breadth of experience of the Review Team was not wide enough and requesting that he consider this further together with the issues raised regarding the Terms of Reference and the timescale. Information on the available resources and likely cost of the Review would also be requested.
4.50 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
6: Briefing by Departmental officials on the Pre-Consultation Exercise for the future Community Safety Strategy
Mark Goodfellow, Head of Community Safety Unit (CSU), Gillian Ardis, Head of Strategy, Implementation and Research Branch and Eamon Jones, Strategy, Implementation and Research Branch joined the meeting at 4.50 p.m.
The officials updated the Committee on the pre-consultation exercise and the development of the Community Safety Strategy and answered questions from Members on issues such as the timescale for the development and introduction of a Community Safety Strategy, improving engagement with local communities and opportunities for accessing EU funding.
During the question and answer session the officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information.
5.36 p.m. Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
7. Proposals to increase the Jurisdictional Limit of the County Courts in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered information on the results of a consultation by the NI Courts and Tribunals Service on proposals to increase the monetary limit of the County Court, District and Small Claims Courts jurisdictions and on the way forward proposed by the Minister of Justice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice seeking further information/clarification on a number of issues before considering the matter further.
8: The Police Pension (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered Statutory Rule N o 2010/348 The Police Pension (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had no issues to raise with regard to the technical aspects of the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee for Justice considered Statutory Rule N o 2010/348 The Police Pension (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule.
9. Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No.2) 2010
The Committee considered proposals for the Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No.2) 2010, both of which make technical and procedural changes arising from recently enacted primary legislation and an EC Directive and up-date references to the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance and Personnel to reflect post-devolution arrangements.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposed Rules.
10. Correspondence
i. The Committee noted an invitation from the Minister of Justice to the NICS Live event on 16 November 2010.
ii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Justice indicating his intention to formally signal his agreement to the UK’s continued support and participation in the Hague Convention on the international recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance.
iii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Justice regarding the impact and responsibilities for the Department of Justice following the publication of the Billy Wright Inquiry Report and his conclusions in relation to the relevant recommendations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the information further at the meeting on 18 November.
iv. The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Justice in response to concerns raised by the Prison Officers Association regarding the management of prisons in Northern Ireland.
v. The Committee considered a copy of the final report on the arrangements for preparing, checking and issuing court orders in the Crown Court in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the information further at the meeting on 18 November.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the report to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
vi. The Committee noted a Research and Statistical Series Report on the Cost of Crime in Northern Ireland.
vii. The Committee noted that information had been requested from the Department of Justice in relation to correspondence from the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the implementation plan for the Play and Leisure Policy.
viii. The Committee considered correspondence from MensAid NI regarding the current six month statutory bar in relation to common assault/assault inflicted on a child.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department of Justice for comment and to consider further during the Committee Stage of the Justice Bill.
ix. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development regarding the Consultation on Bribery Prevention Procedures.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department of Justice.
x. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee on Procedures regarding statistical information from the Public Prosecution Service on prosecutorial decisions made in 2009/10.
xi. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of First and deputy First Minister regarding the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.
xii. The Committee considered correspondence from Community Restorative Justice Ireland NI requesting that the informal meeting with the Committee should also include Northern Ireland Alternatives.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to a joint informal meeting with Community Restorative Justice Ireland NI and Northern Ireland Alternatives.
xiii. The Committee considered correspondence from the Community Relations Council providing a copy of its response to OFMDFM’s Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI) consultation document.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
xiv. The Committee noted that correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development seeking clarification in relation to the review of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 would be dealt with by the Health Committee.
xv. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in response to the Joint Committee’s call for a wider review of policy in relation to public protection issues in light of the Donagh case in which he outlined his view that a review should not be instigated until the outcomes of the on-going reviews were known.
xvi. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety regarding the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority’s meeting with the Donagh Survivors.
11. Chairman’s Business
i. The Chairman advised the Committee that he had received an invitation from the Northern Ireland Policing Board to a seminar on Police Officers Medical Pensions on 16 November 2010 but unfortunately was unable to attend.
ii. The Committee considered an invitation from Dr Michael Maguire, Chief Inspector of CJI to participate in the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Stakeholder Conference Wednesday 19 January.
Agreed: The Committee agreed accept the invitation.
12. Any Other Business
The Committee discussed a recent court sentence and how judgements reached were conveyed to the public and to victims and witnesses.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice on the matter.
The Committee noted reports of the outcome of a review of the Policing Board.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a copy of the report of the review of the Policing Board.
The Committee discussed the handling of oral evidence sessions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to limit presentations to 10 minutes to allow maximum time for questions and discussion.
13. Date and Time of next Meeting
The Committee will visit the Young Offenders Centre at Hydebank Wood on Thursday 11 November 2010 therefore the next Committee meeting will take place on Thursday 18 November 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
6.13 p.m. The Chairman adjourned the meeting.
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
18 November 2010
21 October 10 / Menu
