Minutes of Proceedings

ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE

Minutes of Proceedings 
TUESDAY 11 September 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson) 
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson) 
Mrs Carmal Hanna 
Mr Danny Kennedy 
Mr Ian McCrea 
Mr Alan McFarland 
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín 
Mr John O’Dowd 
Mr George Robinson

In Attendance: 
Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk) 
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sinead Nash (Assistant Clerk) 
Mr Keith McBride (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Mr Alex Attwood 
Mr Nelson McCausland

The meeting opened at 11:05am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above

2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held 03 July 2007

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 3 July 2007.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 Efficiency Review Panel

Members noted the exchange of correspondence between the Clerk and officials in OFMdFM indicating that the matter remains under consideration and affirming the intention of the Office to consult further with the Committee.

Members also took note of the oral question to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on 10 September regarding the Efficiency Review Panel and expressed frustration and disappointment at the lack of progress on this issue.

Agreed: That the Chairperson should write to request an urgent meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss the lack of progress in relation to the Efficiency Review Panel.

3.2 Committee on Procedures

Members discussed the invitation from the Committee on Procedures to make written and oral submissions to the ‘Inquiry into Committee Systems and Structures’.

Agreed: That the Clerk write to the Clerk of the Committee on Procedures stating that the Committee decided not to make a submission to the Inquiry but indicating that at least some Members would participate in the general survey.

3.3 Committee meetings in the Assembly

Members noted that work has begun to establish Room 21 as a Committee Room.

3.4 Executive and Irish Government Review Group

Members gave initial consideration to a letter received on 10 September 2007 from OFMdFM regarding the Review.

11:20am Carál Ní Chuilín joined the meeting

Agreed:

• That this matter will be considered as a ‘substantive item’ at the next meeting.
• That the Clerk should copy the OFMdFM response to the Clerk of the Committee for OFMdFM.

3.5 Strategy on Poverty and Social Inclusion

The Chairperson reminded Members of the Committee’s request to be consulted on ‘Inquiries’ relating to the ‘Strategy on Poverty and Social Inclusion’.

Members discussed the extent of their interest in the Strategy.

Agreed: That the Chairperson write to the Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development and to the Chairperson of the Committee for OFMdFM explaining the reason for the Committee’s interest in this Strategy and suggesting that scrutinising of this Strategy might more properly rest with one, or other, of the Statutory Committees.

3.6 Remit of Assembly and Executive Review Committee

Members noted the terms of reference of the briefing paper originally presented to the Committee at its first meeting on 22 May 2007.

11:32am John O’Dowd left the meeting

Agreed: That this issue be considered as a substantive item at a future meeting which would deal with the Efficiency Review Panel and the Executive and Irish Government Review Group (see also 3.1 and 3.4 above).

4. Chairperson’s Business

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

The Committee considered two invitations to meet with the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

Agreed:

• The Chairperson will attend the proposed lunch on Monday 15 October if available.
• That the Committee would host a working lunch on Tuesday 16 October and that at least one Member of each party would attend.

Multiple Mandates

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

• Member, House of Commons
• Member, Lisburn City Council

Danny Kennedy:

• Member, Newry and Mourne District Council

Carmel Hanna

• Member, Belfast City Council

George Robinson:

• Member, Limavady Borough Council

John O’Dowd:

• Member, Craigavon Borough Council

Ian McCrea:

• Member, Cookstown District Council

Members noted that responses from two parties, the Alliance Party and the Progressive Unionist Party, had been received and Mr McFarland indicated that the Ulster Unionist Party intended to discuss the issue in the next few days.

Agreed:

• Members to encourage their parties to make a submission on this issue.
• That the Committee will await all outstanding responses before considering the matter further.

6. Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice

The following interests were declared:

Jeffrey Donaldson:

• Member, Her Majesty’s Privy Council
• Member , Northern Ireland Policing Board

George Robinson:

• Member, Limavady District Policing Partnership

Ian McCrea declared the following interest:

• Member of Cookstown District Policing Partnership.

6.1 Consideration of Written Submissions

The Chairperson reminded Members that submissions to the Inquiry had been received up to (and including) Thursday 6 September and were included in their black folders.

6.2 Written submissions

The Chairperson referred to submissions received, to representations from the Bar Council and Law Society and correspondence from OFMdFM stating that they are considering the matter.

Members agreed:

• To accept and consider late submissions received after the deadline.
• To accept and consider submissions from those organisations which requested more time.
• To extend the deadline for written submissions to 26 September
• To re-advertise the terms of reference and details of the extended deadline.
• That the Chairperson should write reminder letters to the Green Party and the Independent Health Coalition
• That the Clerk should write to those organisations who had declared an intention to submit including the Bar Council, Law Society and OFMdFM and any other key contacts.
• That the Clerk should also write to University of Ulster Transitional Justice Unit to invite a written submission.

6.3 Oral Evidence Sessions

Members reviewed the written submissions received and considered those witnesses who might be called to give oral evidence.

Agreed:

• That the Committee will adhere to the original timetable with weekly witness sessions beginning on 25 September.
• Clerk to prepare a list of key issues/questions for oral witnesses based on the terms of Reference of the Inquiry.

11:45amDanny Kennedy left the meeting

• Research paper on the role of SOCA and its relationship with the NIO and PSNI to be commissioned.
• That the following witnesses will be called to give oral evidence:

Lord Chief Justice 
Secretary of State 
Northern Ireland Court Service 
Policing Board 
Alliance Party 
Progressive Unionist Party

• That the following organisations should be amongst ‘possible witnesses’ to be called to give oral evidence:

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 
Public Prosecution Service 
Committee on the Administration of Justice 
Criminal Justice Inspection NI

• That the Committee will consider inviting the following organisations for oral evidence at a later date:

Department for Social Justice
Police Service of Northern Ireland 
Garda Siochana

12:20pm Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting

6.4 Other Issues

The Committee discussed the question of ‘Confidence’.

Agreed:

• That the Clerk should obtain the forward timetable of reports by the Independent Monitoring Commission.
• That it may be necessary to invite the Chief Constable to appear before the Committee in the latter stages of the Inquiry.

7. Draft Press Release

Agreed:

• The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to consider and agree the press release.
• Clerk to liaise with the Information Office with regard to media coverage.

1:00pm Alan McFarland left the meeting

8. Any Other Business

   Members considered the re-issue of a call for evidence from the Constitutional Affairs Committee to the Inquiry into ‘Devolution: A Decade On’.

Agreed: The Clerk to respond stating that the Committee is not yet in a position to make a submission to its Inquiry, as the Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice is still at an early stage.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25 September at 10.30 am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.02 pm.

RT HON JEFFREY DONALDSON, MP
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee 
11 September 2007