Minutes of Proceedings - 11 June 2002

Present:
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA, Chairperson
Mr Billy Bell MLA
Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Mr John Kelly MLA 
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Professor Monica McWilliams MLA
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA

Attendees:
Mr Tony Logue, Committee Clerk
Ms Hilary Bogle
Ms Pauline Innes

Apologies: 
Mr Gregory Campbell MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA

10.34am the meeting opened in private session-the Clerk in the Chair.

1. Co-option of Chairperson

In the absence of the Chairperson, the Clerk called for nominations for the position of co-opted Chairperson. Mr Ervine proposed that : Ms Lewsley be the co-opted Chairperson for this meeting. Mr Weir seconded this and the nomination was accepted.

On their being no further nominations the Clerk put the question without debate.

Resolved, that Ms Lewsley, being the only candidate proposed, be the Chairperson of this Committee meeting.

10.36am Ms Lewsley in the Chair

2. Apologies

The apologies were noted.

3. Evidence Session

10.38am The Chairperson called the Lord Chancellor's Department to be examined and the meeting continued in public session.

Members heard evidence from the Lord Chancellor's Department on their role under the proposed new draft Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. Representing the Lord Chancellor's Department were -

- Mr Alan Hunter, Director of Legal Aid

- Mr Paul Andrews, Business Manager, Order in Council Implementation Team

11.41am Mr Ervine left the meeting

4. Any other business

No other matters were raised.

5. Date and time of next meeting

The Committee agreed that it would next meet on Thursday, 13 June 2002, when it would hear evidence from the Northern Ireland Association of Citizen Advice Bureaux and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

11.45am the Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Acting Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee
13 June, 2002