Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 11.02 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 meetings held on 14^th  and 28^th February 2012. 

Mr Simon Hamilton joined the meeting at 11.03am.

3.  Matters Arising        

The Chaiperson referred Members to correspondence received from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the outcome of the meeting between the First and deputy First Minister and the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the AERC.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.   

4.  Correspondence

The Chairperson referred the Committee to correspondence from the Education Committee regarding AERC’s Review on the size of the Assembly and number of NI departments. 

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk reply to the Education Committee and state that: the Committee is still receiving and considering written/oral evidence on the Review and has yet to reach a view on the matter; and that the Committee is expected to report on the Committee’s consideration on the number of NI departments in October 2012. 

The Chairperson referred the Committee to correspondence from the NI Public Sector Alliance (NIPSA) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)  regarding the Committee’s Review on the size of the Assembly and the number of NI Departments.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should respond to these letters and state that: the Committee considers NIPSA and ICTU to be key social partners in its Review; the Committee has previously decided to use a signposting advertisement in the three daily papers in order to attract a wider public sector response; and the Committee would welcome a response from NIPSA and ICTU. 

5.  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 Chairperson advised the Committee that the purpose of this agenda item was for the Committee to consider further oral evidence for its Review.

Mr Stewart Dickson joined the Committee at 11.08am

The Clerk briefed the Committee on the papers before Members. 

The Chairperson invited Councillor Evelyne Robinson, President of Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and Mr Derek McCallan, Chief Executive of NILGA, to join the meeting.

Councillor Robinson and Mr McCallan joined the meeting at 11.08am.

Mr Moutray and Mr Dickson declared an interest as local district councillors.

Councillor Robinson and Mr McCallan briefed the Committee on NILGA’s written submission on the Committee’s Review.

Mr Pat Doherty joined the meeting at 11.12am.

This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked Councillor Robinson and Mr McCallan for their oral evidence and their attendance at the Committee meeting.

Councillor Robinson and Mr McCallan left the meeting at 11.35am

6.  Any Other Business

There were no other items of business.

7.  Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee will be held on 20 March 2012, at 11.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at  11.35am

Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee