Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2009/2010
Date: 11 May 2010
Venue: Room 21
The meeting opened at 11.04 am in public session.
Linda Gregg was welcomed as Vincent Gribbin’s successor.
1. Apologies
Mr Fred Cobain
Mr Declan O’Loan
2. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 23 March 2010
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 23 March 2010.
3. Matters arising
None.
4. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed the Committee that Agenda NI had made a request to do a feature on the Committee, based on interviews with the Chairperson and the Committee Clerk.
Agreed : Members agreed that the Chairperson and the Committee Clerk should participate.
5. Correspondence
Incoming correspondence
5.1 Members noted letters from:
- Mr Alan McFarland informing Members of his resignation from the Committee
- Members noted a letter from Mr Raymond McCartney to the Speaker, resigning as deputy Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee
- Members noted a letter from Mr Pat Doherty to the Speaker, nominating Mr Alex Maskey as deputy Chairperson of the Committee.
5.2 Members noted a memo from the Clerk of the Justice Committee about Waste Offences.
Outgoing correspondence
5.3 Members noted letters from the Chairperson about the fact that the Committee was unable to establish a quorum on either of those dates.
5.4 Members noted a letter to Mr Alan McFarland, thanking him for his valued service to the Committee.
5.5 Mr Raymond McCartney was thanked for his time as Deputy Chairperson and Mr Alex Maskey was welcomed as his successor.
6. Arrangements for briefing by the First Minister and deputy First Minister
There was some discussion about the role and office of the Attorney General, and the associated scrutiny and reporting arrangements, and the scrutiny arrangements for the Public Prosecution Service.
11.14 am Ian Paisley Jnr left the meeting
Agreed: Members agreed that outstanding issues such as the reporting arrangements for the Attorney General and his/her accountability to the Assembly and the costs associated with the Attorney General’s office are now matters for other Committees of the Assembly.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Clerks and Chairpersons of each of the relevant Committees; Assembly and Executive Review Committee, Committee on Procedures, Committee for Justice and the Committee for the First Minister and deputy First Minister, should meet and seek to reach agreement on the scrutiny and reporting arrangements for the Attorney General and the Public Prosecution Service.
Agreed: Members agreed, that the Chairperson should write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Attorney General and his/her accountability to the Assembly, the costs associated with the Attorney General’s office and the scrutiny of the Public Prosecution Service.
7. Forward Work Programme
There was some discussion on this issue and Members noted that a paper from Sinn Fein remained outstanding.
11.28 am Ian Paisley Jnr rejoined the meeting
Agreed: That the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson should meet with the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the establishment, terms of reference, membership and work programme of the Efficiency Review Panel.
Agreed: That Sinn Fein would submit a paper as soon as possible.
8. Any other business
Members noted that the Committee Clerk will be leaving the Committee to work in the Engagement Directorate from 1 June 2010, and arrangements are being made to appoint a replacement Committee Clerk before this date.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The Committee agreed that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 at 11.00 am, in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.34 am.
