Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 11 October 2011
Venue: Room 21
The meeting opened at 11.04 a.m. in public session.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr John Simmons who has replaced Mr Paul Gill as Clerk to the Committee.
Members expressed their appreciation to Paul Gill for his contribution to the work of the Committee.
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant financial or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Minutes of the last meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Committee meeting held on Tuesday 27 September 2011.
3. Matters Arising
No matters were raised.
11.10 am Mr Campbell joined the meeting
4. Review of Parts III and IV of the Northern Ireland Act
The Committee noted the Clerk’s memo and the Clerk briefed the Committee in relation to this issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, on receipt of an expected letter from the Secretary of State, the Chairperson will issue a letter to Political Parties, to request their priorities for the Committee’s review of the provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the NI Act, within the available timescale set out in the Secretary of State’s letter for a proposed Northern Ireland Bill.
5. AOB
The Committee noted a letter from Steven Agnew MLA seeking observer status at Assembly and Executive Review meetings and copies of all Committee papers for the Green Party.
Agreed: The Committee discussed the matter and agreed that the Chairperson should write to Mr Agnew.
6. Review of the Initial Ministerial Provision in relation to the Department of Justice and recommendations relating to the arrangements from 1 May 2012.
The Committee noted the Clerk’s memo and the Clerk briefed the Committee in relation to this issue.
The following representatives from Assembly Research and Information Service joined the meeting:
Tim Moore – Senior Researcher
Raymond McCaffrey – Research Officer
The representatives briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.
The Committee noted a Research Briefing Note which formed the basis of the presentation.
11.33 am Mr Beggs left the meeting
11.35am The meeting moved into closed session when the Committee received Legal Advice and considered a draft Stakeholder Options Paper.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a revised version of the draft Stakeholder Options Paper should be issued to Members by correspondence for approval and issue to Stakeholders later this week.
12.09pm The meeting into open session
7. AOB
The Committee noted an Electronic Papers questionnaire.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Assembly and Executive Committee will be held on Tuesday 25 October 2011 at 11.00 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.10pm.
