COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 15 MARCH 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow MLA (Chairman)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan 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 10.38 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2011
The Committee approved the draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2011 .
3. Matters Arising
i. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Justice providing notification that, due to an issue that had arisen in relation to clause 104 of the Justice Bill he would not be moving the Final Stage on 15 March. This would allow an additional Assembly Stage for the Bill to take place to amend it specifically to ensure its compatibility with the EU Weapons Directive before it enters Final Stage.
ii. The Committee noted the progress report in relation to the Review of Access to Justice. A briefing by the Review Team on the interim report would be scheduled into the work programme for the next Justice Committee.
4. Briefing by NIPSA on Equal Pay Claims
Kieran Bannon, Assistant General Secretary, NIPSA, joined the meeting at 10.43 a.m.
Mr Bannon briefed the Committee on the background to the current position in relation to Equal Pay Claims of Department of Justice staff and PSNI support staff.
10.44 a.m. Ms Ní Chuilín joined the meeting.
10.46 a.m. Mr O’Dowd joined the meeting.
A question and answer session followed covering issues such as the similarities and differences of the cases being brought forward by Department of Justice staff and PSNI support staff; the reasons for taking legal action; the number of people who are affected by the dispute; information provided to staff on appointment; and the pay delegation to the NIO in 1996.
11.03 a.m. Mr McDevitt left the meeting.
The Chairman thanked Mr Bannon for the briefing and he left the meeting.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
5. Briefing by the Department of Justice on Equal Pay Claims
Karen Pearson, Head of Personnel and Office Services and David Hughes, Head of Policing Policy and Strategy Division joined the meeting at 11.11 a.m.
11.15 a.m. Mr Maginness joined the meeting.
The officials updated the Committee on the current position in relation to Equal Pay issues for staff in the PSNI and the Department of Justice. A question and answer session followed covering issues such as the lack of engagement between management and the Trade Unions to try to reach a settlement; the role of the Department of Finance and Personnel; the length of time the matter has been ongoing; the availability of £26 million for equal pay claims; the number of staff affected; the question of legal liability; the membership of the Oversight Group; the out-workings of the Pay and Grading delegation granted to the NIO; and the position of the Policing Board and PSNI management.
11.32 a.m. Mr Buchanan left the meeting.
11.40 a.m. Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting.
During the question and answer session the officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Justice expressing concern regarding the length of time being taken to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion and encouraging further dialogue between Management and NIPSA to achieve a speedy resolution that ensures Department of Justice staff and PSNI support staff are treated equitably.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
6. Briefing by Assembly Research and Library Services on a scoping paper on Prisoners and Mental Health
Fiona O’Connell, Assembly Researcher, joined the meeting at 12.01 p.m.
Fiona O’Connell outlined the key points and issues in the scoping paper on Prisoners and Mental Health and answered questions from Members.
12.13 p.m. Mr Buchanan rejoined the meeting.
The Chairman thanked Ms O’Connell for the briefing and she left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the research paper to the Prison Review Team for its consideration.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer the scoping paper to the next Justice Committee to enable it to consider whether further work should be undertaken on the matter.
7. Statutory Rule No 2011/65 – The County Courts (Financial Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
The Committee considered Statutory Rule No 2011/65 – The County Courts (Financial Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 to increase the jurisdictional limit of the small claims court from £2,000 to £3,000.
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 No 2011/65 – The County Courts (Financial Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and had no objection to the Rule.
8. Statutory Rule No 2011/64 – The Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2011
The Committee considered Statutory Rule No 2011/64 – The Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2011 which would give effect to the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children and Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters.
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 No 2011/64 – The Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2011and had no objection to the Rule.
9. Statutory Rule No 2011/62 – The Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) 2011
The Committee considered Statutory Rule No 2011/62 – The Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) 2011 which would make two amendments to the Rules of the Court of Judicature to take account of the provisions of Part 7 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 regarding criminal memoirs and give effect to Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters.
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 No 2011/62 – The Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) 2011 and had no objection to the Rule.
10. Written briefing on the consultation approach in relation to the Department of Justice Equality Scheme
The Committee noted a written briefing paper from the Department of Justice providing an update on its draft Equality Scheme and Action Plan which it intended to issue for formal public consultation. A briefing on the results of the consultation exercise would be scheduled in the work programme for the next Justice Committee.
11. Chairman’s Business
None.
12. Correspondence
i. The Committee noted correspondence of 10 March from the Department of Justice regarding the Public Consultation Events on a new Community Safety Strategy for NI.
ii. The Committee noted correspondence of 24 February 2011 from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regarding PSNI support staff Equal Pay issues.
13. Any Other Business
None.
14. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 23 March 2011 at 10.30 a.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
12.22 p.m. The meeting was adjourned.
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley MLA
Chairman, Committee for Justice
23 March 2011
10 March 11 / Menu
