Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2007/2008
Date: 06 November 2007
ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
Minutes of Proceedings
TUESDAY, 6 November 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, MP (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Nelson McCausland
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr John O’Dowd
Mr George Robinson
In Attendance:
Mr Stephen Graham (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sinead Nash (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Lynn Gray (Clerical Officer)
Mr Michael Johnston (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Raymond McCartney (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
The meeting opened at 11:07am in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Draft Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 23 October 2007
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2007.
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Chairperson’s Business
3.1 Northern Ireland Grand Committee
Members noted the transcript from an adjournment debate of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee in the House of Commons regarding the devolution of policing and justice.
3.2 Invitation from NIACRO
Members noted a letter from NIACRO inviting Members to a ‘Political Briefing’ by Dr Lesley McAra on Friday 16 November regarding the impact of devolution on criminal justice in Scotland.
Agreed:
- That the Clerk will attend the briefing and report back to the Committee at 20 November meeting.
- That Members will RSVP to Lynn Gray at the Committee office by Friday 9 November.
3.3 Correspondence from Committee on the Administration of Justice
Members noted an email from the CAJ expressing their disappointment at the fact that they have not been called to give evidence to the Inquiry.
Agreed:
- That the CAJ will not be invited to give oral evidence.
- That the Clerk write to the CAJ expressing the Committee’s appreciation for their contribution to the Inquiry by written submission and stating that they will not be required to provide oral evidence.
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Matters Arising
4.1 Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Members noted that a letter has been forwarded to the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Sir Patrick Cormack MP, expressing the willingness of the Committee to meet again before they complete their final report into the devolution of policing and justice matters in February 2008.
4.2 Letter to OFMdFM
Members noted that a letter has been forwarded to OFMdFM regarding the inquiry into the devolution of policing and justice and inviting a response on the following issues:
- Appointment of the Attorney General
- Efficiency Review Panel – Number of Departments / Ministers
- Responsibility for the Public Prosecution Service; and
- That FM/dFM should also agree to meet with a Committee delegation.
4.3 Speech by Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP regarding government departments
Members noted the transcript of the speech made by Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP at the Mayor’s Installation dinner at Castlereagh Borough Council, where Mr Robinson refers to the reforms and improvements he considers are required in the system of government.
11.21am Alex Attwood joined the meeting
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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:
- Member, Cookstown District Policing Partnership
5.1 Identification of a preferred ministerial model and procedures for filling the ministerial post/s for any new policing and justice department.
This session was recorded by Hansard.
5.1.1 Ministerial model
Members discussed the options for a Ministerial model.
11.32 George Robinson left the meeting
11.37 Carmel Hanna joined the meeting
12.04 George Robinson joined the meeting
Sinn Féin favoured the model of two Ministers acting equally and jointly, whereas the SDLP stated that a single Minister is the most appropriate model. However, recognising that this may not be a realistic option, the SDLP’s second preference is for two Ministers acting equally and jointly, separate from OFMdFM.
The UUP support the model of a single Minister, but only in circumstances where there is full community confidence. This is a view shared by the DUP.
Agreed: That there was presently no consensus on the arrangements for a Ministerial model and that the matter should be re-visited later in the Inquiry.
5.1.2 Departmental structure
Members proceeded to discuss matters relating to structure and referred to documents distributed at 23 October meeting, including correspondence from the NIO (15 October), SOCA (18 October), the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in Scotland (22 October) and the recent research paper on the Court Service model.
Members heard a presentation on a research paper regarding the Court Service and Crown Prosecution Service models England and Wales and how they compare with the proposed model for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That the four parties represented on the Committee would bring forward papers for discussion at the Committee’s meeting scheduled for 20 November 2007 addressing the issues raised in the recent research papers.
5.1.3 Governance and accountability
Members discussed the issue of governance and accountability.
Agreed:
- That the Committee may invite an expert witness to advise the Committee on the structure of the Criminal Justice system.
- That the Clerk liaise with Research and Library Services to investigate a list of possible expert witnesses and to prepare a ‘specification document’ which summarises the issues which the witness might be expected to address.
12.51 Alan McFarland left the meeting
5.2 Firearms
Members noted that a paper will be available for the next meeting regarding the extent to which firearms matters have been transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
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Draft Press Release
Members agreed the terms of the press release.
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Multiple Mandates
Members discussed the need to consider the issue of multiple mandates.
Agreed:
- That the Chairperson will table a question in the House of Commons regarding the government’s approach to the issue of multiple mandates.
- That the issue multiple mandates will be considered at the next Committee meeting on 13 November.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
Members discussed the forward work programme for the Committee.
Agreed: That Committee meetings will be held on a weekly basis up until Christmas recess.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 13 November at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.58 pm.
