COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2010
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Sir Reg Empey 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 2.04 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2010
Agreed: The Committee approved the draft minutes of the meeting of 18 November 2010.
3. Matters Arising
i. The Committee noted that a record of the meeting between the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the Acting Chairman, Acting Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Policing Board on Tuesday 23 November to discuss the Ken Reed Assessment Report would be available for next week’s meeting.
ii. The Committee noted that a discussion of the evidence taken on the Sports Law Clauses of the Justice Bill would be scheduled for the next meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that any further questions should be put in writing to the Department of Justice rather than require officials to attend the discussion.
iii. The Committee noted the details for the informal event in the Long Gallery at 3.30 p.m. next Monday 29 November.
4. December Monitoring Round
The Committee considered a briefing paper from the Department of Justice on the December Monitoring Round and discussed issues including PSNI Hearing Loss costs; potential PSNI equal pay costs; and in-year budget cuts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that an oral briefing by Department of Justice officials should take place at the meeting on 2 December.
5. The Justice Bill – Oral Evidence Sessions
The Committee noted the tight timescale for the Committee Stage of the Justice Bill and considered a proposal for an extension of time.
Agreed: The Committee agreed a motion, extending the Committee Stage of the Justice Bill (NIA Bill 1/10) until Friday 11 February 2010, for a Plenary Session in the near future.
2.50 p.m. Mr Maginness left the meeting.
The Committee noted the large number of submissions from District Policing Partnerships,Community Safety Partnerships and Local Councils in relation to the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) aspect of the Justice Bill and considered options for the handling of oral sessions on this issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the date for taking oral evidence on the PCSPs should be 16 December with the oral evidence sessions on Alternatives to Justice and the Treatment of Offenders moved to 9 December.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold a formal evidence event in the Long Gallery on 16 December 2010 on the PCSPs Clauses, to which all relevant organisations would be invited to attend.
Briefing by Departmental Officials on clauses 1 to 19 of the Justice Bill
Gareth Johnston, Deputy Director of Justice Strategy Division, Tom Haire, Justice Bill Manager, Janice Smiley, Head of Criminal Policy Unit and Chris Mathews, Head of Sentencing Delivery and European Unit, joined the meeting at 2.50 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on the intent and content of clauses 1 to 19 of the Justice Bill on Special Measures for Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses and Live Links and answered questions from Members on the compliance of the Offender Levy with European Union legislation.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Briefing by Victim Support NI
Susan Reid, Chief Executive and Geraldine Hanna, Operations Manager joined the meeting at 3.18 p.m.
The representatives briefed the Committee on Victim Support NI’s views on the Special Measures for Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses clauses of the Justice Bill and answered questions from Members on issues such as how to ensure that victims and witnesses give the best evidence possible and the use of the Offender Levy for additional funding for victims services.
The Chairman thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Briefing by MindWise
Bill Halliday, Chief Executive, Anne Doherty, Deputy Chief Executive, Stanley Booth, Appropriate Adult Scheme Manager and Laura McKay, Appropriate Adult Scheme Deputy Manager joined the meeting at 3.40 p.m.
The representatives briefed the Committee on MindWise’s views on the Special Measures for Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses clauses and Live Links clausesof the Justice Bill and answered questions from Members on issues such as the treatment of vulnerable adults in police custody; the role and training of Intermediaries and the ability of employers to make reasonable adjustments to employ those convicted of specific offences.
The Chairman thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Response by Department of Justice officials on the issues raised by the organisations
Gareth Johnston, Deputy Director of Justice Strategy Division, Tom Haire, Justice Bill Manager, Janice Smiley, Head of Criminal Policy Unit and Chris Mathews, Head of Sentencing Delivery and European Unit returned to the table at 4.11 p.m.
The Departmental officials responded to the issues raised by the organisations on the Special Measures for Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses and Live Links clauses.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to discuss the written and oral evidence on the Special Measures for Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses and Live Links clauses at the meeting on 9 December 2010.
6. Up-date briefing by the Prison Review Team on progress with the Review
Dame Anne Owers, Chairperson of the Prison Review Team, Paul Leighton, Review Team member and Mandy Morrison, Secretariat Support joined the meeting at 4.43 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on issues relating to the Review Team’s progress with the Review and answered questions from Members on the timetable for the Review; leadership and communication issues within the Prison System; roles and responsibilities; and what the core business of the Prison Service was.
The Chairman thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
7. Draft Consultation Paper on the Community Safety Strategy
The Committee considered a draft consultation paper on the Community Safety Strategy provided by the Department of Justice.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposed consultation document.
8: Correcting Private Security Industry Act (2001) (Exemptions)(Aviation) 2006
The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Justice regarding the intention of the Home Office to create new regulations to amend current exemptions from the Security Industry Authority licensing requirement applying to airport security personnel. The Regulations were required to make a technical change to ensure that a previously agreed exemption could be rolled forward.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content to note the proposed Regulations.
9. Chairman’s Business
The Chairman outlined proposals to hold an additional committee meeting on Tuesday 7 December from 3.00 – 5.30 p.m. to enable a number of items of business to be progressed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold an additional committee meeting on Tuesday 7 December from 3.00 – 5.30 p.m.
10 . Correspondence
i. The Committee considered correspondence from the Department of Justice providing additional information in relation to the proposed joint training college at Desertcreat.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice seeking further clarification of his position in relation to the proposed project.
ii. The Committee noted an invitation from NIACRO to the Fourth event of the Justice Series, entitled Women, offending and criminal justice to be held in Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 30 November 2010 at 12.30 p.m.
iii. The Committee considered correspondence from Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council regarding the illegal disposal of Laundered Diesel Waste.
Lord Morrow declared an interest as a Member of the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department of Justice and the Committee for the Environment for comments on the issues raised.
iv. The Committee noted correspondence from the Law Society regarding the remuneration of defence representation in the Crown Court. The information was relevant for a briefing scheduled to take place at a future meeting.
v. The Committee considered correspondence from the Department of Justice regarding the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the correspondence to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for consideration as part of the Committee Stage of the Bill.
10. Any Other Business
None.
11. Date and Time of next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Thursday 2 December 2010 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
5.42 p.m. The Chairman adjourned the meeting.
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
2 December 2010
18 November 10 / Menu
