COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy 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)
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Lord Empey MLA
The meeting commenced at 1.05 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Briefing by the Minister of Justice on the Interim Report of the Prison Review Team
David Ford MLA, Minister of Justice, Nick Perry, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice and Colin McConnell, Director General of the Prison Service joined the meeting at 1.07 p.m.
The Minister of Justice briefly outlined the main findings and recommendations of the Interim Report of the Prison Review Team. A question and answer session followed covering such issues as the recommendations to address the problems caused by the disproportionate effect of fine defaulters and the high level of remand prisoners on the prison system; how the report findings will be taken forward and the timescales; how the recommendation regarding the need for a separate custodial facility for women will be taken forward given the budgetary constraints; the problems regarding leadership and management; accountability and differentiation of the roles of the Permanent Secretary, the Director General and the Governing Governors; linkages with the Youth Justice Review and the projected capital and running costs of the Prison Service in future years.
1.12 p.m. Mr Givan joined the meeting.
1.16 p.m. Ms Ní Chuilín joined the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the Minister and his officials and they left the meeting.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The meeting was suspended at 1.56 p.m. to enable Members to vote in the plenary session.
The meeting resumed at 2.11 p.m. in closed session
Present: Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr Paul Givan MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt
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)
3. Justice Bill - Sex Offender Notification Clause
The Assembly Legal Advisor provided further advice on several issues relating to the proposed Sex Offender Notification Clause that had arisen during consideration of the matter at the meeting on 24 February 2011.
The Assembly Legal Adviser agreed to provide written clarification of two issues for the meeting scheduled to take place on 3 March 2011.
2.16 p.m. Mr McNarry rejoined the meeting.
2.26 pm. The meeting moved into public session.
The Committee considered the proposed new Sex Offender Notification Clause.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
2.35 p.m. Mr O’Dowd left the meeting.
4. Justice Bill - Clause 38 - Chanting
The Committee briefly discussed Clause 38 of the Justice Bill – Chanting – and the position regarding the definition of “sectarianism” following the consideration stage of the Bill.
2.41 p.m. Mr Maginness joined the meeting.
5. Date and Time of next Meeting
The Chairman informed the Committee that the Department of Justice has indicated that it is not ready to provide 2 of the oral briefings scheduled for the meeting on Thursday 3 March and that the work programme will have to be re-arranged.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a meeting for Tuesday 22 March 2011.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 3 March 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
2.50 p.m. The meeting was adjourned.
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
10 March 2011
24 February 11 / Menu
