Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 08 May 2012
Venue: Room 21
The meeting opened at 11.03 am. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of the last meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 24th April 2012.
3. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
4. Review of Parts III and IV of the Northern Ireland Act in the Context of Reviewing the Size of the NI Assembly and the Number of NI Departments.
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the purpose of this agenda item was for the Committee to further consider the written submissions received on the Committee’s Review, and in particular, from the Political Parties of the Assembly, and to consider two Assembly Research Papers commissioned by the Committee as part of the Review.
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the papers before Members.
Mr Paul Givan joined the meeting at 11.07am.
The Chairperson invited Mr Tim Moore, Senior Research Officer, NI Assembly Research Services to join the meeting.
The Senior Research Officer joined the meeting at 11.08am.
The Senior Research Officer briefed the Committee on the Assembly Research Paper entitled ‘Further Information on Plenary and Committee Business in the Northern Ireland Assembly and other Legislatures’.
Mr Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 11.12am.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Senior Research Officer briefed the Committee on the Assembly Research Paper entitled, ‘Electoral Constituencies’.
The meeting was suspended at 11.25am by the Deputy Chairperson due to the call of Members to the Chamber by the division bell.
The meeting resumed at 11.44am resumed by the Deputy Chairperson with Mr Roy Beggs, Mr Pat Doherty, Mr Simon Hamilton and Mr Conall McDevitt present.
The Senior Research Officer continued to brief the Committee on the Assembly Research Paper entitled, ‘Electoral Constituencies’.
Mr Paul Givan rejoined the meeting at 11.48am.
Mr Gregory Campbell rejoined the meeting at 11.51am.
No questions were raised by Members on this briefing.
Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting at 11.52am
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the Senior Research Officer for his briefing and attending the meeting.
The Senior Research Officer left the meeting at 11.54am
The Deputy Chairperson proposed that the Committee consider agenda items Any Other Business and the Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting at this point and then move into closed session to allow the Committee to continue its consideration and discussion in more detail on the written evidence received on the Review and, in particular, the five key issues set out in the ‘Call for Evidence’ paper.
Agreed: To consider Any Other Business and Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting and then to move into closed session.
5. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
6. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee will be held on 15th May 2012, at 11.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Committee moved into closed session at 11.55am.
7. Review of Parts III and IV of the Northern Ireland Act in the Context of Reviewing the Size of the NI Assembly and the Number of NI Departments.
Members commenced a discussion on their views on the key issues of the Review, as set out in the Committee’s ‘Call for Evidence’ Paper.
Mr Roy Beggs left the meeting at 12.00pm
Agreed: To commission further Assembly Research on issues arising from the Committee’s discussion on the statutory link between Westminster and NI Assembly constituencies.
Agreed: To commission Assembly Legal Services for advice on issues arising from the Committee’s discussion on the statutory link between Westminster and NI Assembly constituencies.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.12pm.
