Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 20 March 2012
Venue: Room 29
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 meeting held on 13th March 2012
3. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
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 oral evidence from Mr Trevor Reaney, Clerk/ Director General of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Mr John Stewart, Director of Clerking and Reporting in relation to its Review.
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the papers before Members.
The Chairperson invited Mr Trevor Reaney and Mr John Stewart to join the meeting.
Mr Reaney and Mr Stewart joined the meeting at 11.04am.
Mr Reaney briefed the Committee on his written submission to the Committee’s Review.
Mr Sheehan left the meeting at 11.08am.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr McDevitt left the meeting at 11.28am.
Agreed: To receive additional information from the witnesses in relation to the practice of committees in other legislatures having powers to make amendments to bills during a committee stage and how this could perhaps be applied in the NI Assembly.
Agreed: To commission Assembly Research in relation to the manner in which other parliaments (e.g. Westminster, Welsh, Scottish and Dáil) schedule parliamentary business for plenary sessions, committee meetings and constituency work.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Reaney and Mr Stewart for their oral evidence and their attendance at the Committee meeting.
Mr Reaney and Mr Stewart 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 17 April 2012, at 11.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.35am.
