Minutes of Proceedings - 08 January 2008
Present:
Dr Stephen Farry MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Mr Jim Wells MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Denis Arnold (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Neil Currie (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Roger Kernaghan (Clerical Officer)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA
The meeting opened at 10.03am in closed session.
-
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
-
Election of Deputy Chairperson
The Chairperson called for nominations for the position of Deputy Chairperson. Mr Ross proposed Mr Wells. Mrs Kelly seconded this proposal and Mr Wells accepted the nomination.
There being no further nominations, the Chairperson put the question without debate.Question put and agreed:
That Mr Wells, being the only candidate proposed, be Deputy Chairperson of this Committee.
The meeting moved into public session at 10.05am.
-
Draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2007
Agreed - The draft minutes were agreed.
-
Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson invited Members attending the Committee for the first time to declare any interests, and requested that any Members who had not done so, to forward their Declaration of Interests in writing to the Committee Clerk.
-
Oral evidence from the NSPCC
The following representatives from the NSPCC joined the meeting at 10.08am:
Martin Crummey – Director
Avery Bowser – Assistant Director
Colin Reid – Policy and Public Affairs ManagerThe representatives gave their views on the proposed legislation. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr McCallister joined the meeting at 10.48am.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 10.50am.
-
Oral evidence from Barnardos
The following representatives from Barnardos joined the meeting at 10.50am:
Margaret Kelly – Assistant Director
Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin – Children’s Services Manager
The representatives gave their views on the proposed legislation. This was followed by a question and answer session.The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.20am.
-
Forward Work Programme
Agreed – It was agreed that officials from the Northern Ireland Office should attend the meeting on 14 January 2008, in order to respond to the views expressed by Members and interest groups who had given evidence to the Committee. It was also agreed that the submission from the Christian Institute should be copied to the NIO.
Agreed – The Committee agreed the motion to be submitted to the Business Committee to allow for the Committee report to be debated in plenary.
-
Any other business
None.
-
Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Draft Sexual Offences (NI) Order
2007 will be held on Monday, 14 January 2008 at 9.30am in the Senate Chamber,
Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.25am.
