PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUBGROUP ON POLICING AND JUSTICE MATTERS
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 4 January 2007 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
In the Chair: William Hay
Present: Alex Attwood
Arlene Foster
Gerry Kelly
Danny Kennedy
Raymond McCartney
Ian Paisley Jnr
In Attendance: Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Neil Currie (Assistant Clerk)
Paul Woods (Clerical Officer)
Observing: Ciaran Kearney (Sinn Fein researcher)
Michelle McDermott (Sinn Fein researcher)
Mark Neale (UUP researcher)
Philip Weir (DUP researcher)
The meeting commenced at 2.34pm.
1. Apologies
Fred Cobain (Mr Kennedy attended the meeting as UUP representative in place of Mr Cobain)
Kathy Stanton (Mr McCartney attended the meeting as SF representative in place of Ms Stanton)
2. Declaration of Interests
Members declared the following interests:
- Alex Attwood – member of Policing Board
- Arlene Foster – member of Policing Board
- Danny Kennedy – member of Policing Board
- Ian Paisley Jnr – member of Policing Board
3. Previous Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 21 December 2006 were agreed.
4. Consideration of letter from the Secretary of State dated 28 December 2006 outlining a proposed Justice Minister Model
A letter from Mrs Foster to the Chairperson dated 2 January 2007 regarding the status of the Secretary of State’s letter dated 28 December 2006, and the fact that the contents were in the public domain before the Subgroup had had an opportunity to discuss the matter was circulated.
Members discussed the issues raised in Mrs Foster’s letter and how correspondence received by the Subgroup should be treated.
The Chairperson proposed that all correspondence received by the Subgroup should be treated with the appropriate confidentiality.
The meeting was suspended at 3.04pm.
The meeting reconvened at 3.16pm.
There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
Members gave initial views on the Secretary of State’s letter which included a proposed Justice Minister Model.
Mr Kennedy proposed that the Secretary of State should be invited to attend a meeting of the Subgroup at the earliest opportunity to explain the background to the letter and discuss the proposed model. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
Mr Attwood proposed that the Subgroup should write to the Secretary of State and the four main political parties and request that they share any conclusions reached between the Government and any of the parties that are relevant to the Terms of Reference and the work of the Subgroup. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed, on the basis that the work of the Subgroup would continue in the meantime.
5. Format of Subgroup Report on Policing and Justice Matters
The Chairperson informed members that in light of the letter from the Secretary of State, an extension on the reporting date to the Committee on the Programme for Government on the devolution of policing and justice issues from 3 January to 17 January 2007, had been requested and granted.
The Subgroup confirmed that its report on the devolution of policing and justice matters, agreed on 21 December 2006, should be submitted to the Committee on the Programme for Government.
The Subgroup agreed by consensus that following the conclusion of its consideration of the Secretary of State’s letter and proposed Justice Minister Model, an addendum to the report would be submitted to the Committee on the Programme for Government.
6. Date of Next Meeting
The Subgroup will next meet at 1.00pm on Monday, 8 January 2007 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 4.28pm.