Minutes of Proceedings - 23 October 2001

Present:
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA, Deputy Chairperson
Mr David Ervine MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Gerry McHugh MLA
Prof. Monica McWilliams MLA
Dr Dara O'Hagan MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA

Attendees:
Mr Tony Logue, Committee Clerk
Mr Damien McVeigh

2.04pm the meeting opened in public session-Mr McCarthy in the Chair.

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings

Mr Maginness proposed that under section 5 of the draft Minutes of Proceedings, the names of two Northern Ireland Office officials should be recorded. This amendment was agreed and the Deputy Chairperson put the question.

Resolved, that the draft Minutes of Proceedings for Tuesday, 16 October 2001, as amended, be agreed.

3. Matters arising

No matters were raised.

4. Correspondence

Members noted written submissions from the Committee of the Centre and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

5. Evidence session

2.08pm The Deputy Chairperson called Victim Support Northern Ireland to be examined.

Members heard evidence from Victim Support on their role under the proposed new Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme. Representing Victim Support were-

• Mr Oliver Wilkinson, Chief Executive;

• Ms Joanne McKenna, Area Manager; and

• Ms Joy Gray, Project Manager.

3.20pm The Deputy Chairperson called the Law Society of Northern Ireland to be examined.

Members heard evidence from the Law Society on their opposition to the introduction of a tariff system for compensating victims of violent crime. Representing the Law Society were-

• Mr John Neill, President of the Law Society;

• Mr Brian Stewart, Member of the Governing Council of the Law Society; and

• Mr John Bailie, Chief Executive.

Mr John Caldwell, a senior solicitor from SD Crawford & Co., accompanied the Law Society representatives and provided evidence from his experience of the criminal injury compensation system.

6. Any other business

Members sought clarification from the Clerk on the remaining bodies that the Committee had requested submissions from. The Clerk informed members that he had sent invitations to all bodies requested by the Committee had and that he was awaiting formal responses.

7. Date and time of next meeting

The Committee agreed that it would next meet on Tuesday, 6 November 2001 to consider a draft Report on the Committee's proceedings.

4.05pm the Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
6 November 2001