COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2010
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Lord Browne 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)
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 3.10 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Briefing by the Acting Director of the Public Prosecution Service
Jimmy Scholes, Acting Director of the Public Prosecution Service, Raymond Kitson, Senior Assistant Director and Ian Hearst, Senior Assistant Director, Finance and Resources joined the meeting at 3.11 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on the key issues for the Public Prosecution Service and answered questions from Members on issues including the accountability of the PPS and its relationship with the Attorney General; actions to decrease avoidable delay in the Criminal Justice System; the PPS budget; the disparity in payments to defence and prosecution counsel; and work to improve services to victims and witnesses.
The officials agreed to provide further information regarding the timescale for the completion of the preliminary exercise in relation to the Saville report.
3.22 p.m. Mr McNarry joined the meeting.
3.57 p.m. Mr Givan joined the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
4.19 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
3. Briefing by departmental officials on the results of the consultation exercise on Crown Court Remuneration (this covers remuneration in relation to Very High Cost Cases)
Robert Crawford, Head of Public Legal Services Division, Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service and John Haliday, Criminal Legal Aid Policy Advisor joined the meeting at 4.20 p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on the results of the consultation exercise on remuneration of defence representation in Crown Court Cases and the Minister for Justice’s proposals to take this matter forward. A question and answer session covered issues including the cost savings expected from the proposals, issues raised by key stakeholders ; and whether the proposals would deliver access to Justice.
3.57 p.m. Mr Givan left the meeting.
The officials advised the Committee that an up-to-date paper outlining the proposed way forward would be provided for consideration in the near future.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that oral evidence sessions should be scheduled on the matter with the Bar Council and the Law Society.
4. Briefing by departmental officials on Long Term Policing Objectives
David Hughes, Head of Policing Policy and Strategy Division and Tim Logan, Policing Policy and Strategy Division joined the meeting at 5.25 p.m.
The officials outlined the key points and issues contained in a proposed consultation by the Department of Justice on long term policing objectives and answered questions from Members.
The officials agreed to take account of the views expressed by the Committee and reword the document to ensure that it was presented in an accessible and easily understood format for public consultation.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the draft document required to be reworded to ensure it was presented in an accessible and easily understood format for public consultation.
5. Development of a Reducing Offending Strategy
Members noted proposals from the Department of Justice regarding the development of a Reducing Offending Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the proposals at the next meeting on 9 December 2010.
6. Correspondence
- The Committee considered correspondence from the Department of Justice in response to concerns raised by the Committee for Health, Social Services in relation to Tribunal Reform.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
- The Committee noted correspondencefrom the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regarding the role and work of the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels.
9. Any Other Business
None.
10. Date and time of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Thursday 9 December at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
5.51 p.m. The Chairman adjourned the meeting.
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
16 December 2010
2 December 10 / Menu
