Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 11.00 a.m. in public session

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from Stewart Dickson

2. Minutes of the last meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Committee meeting held on Tuesday 15 November 2011.

3. Matters Arising        

No matters were raised.

4. Review of the Initial Ministerial Provision in relation to the Department of Justice and the arrangements from 1 May 2012.

The Chairperson reminded the Committee of the timescales in relation to this Review and the need to agree the Report today and finalise the Committee’s Motion for Assembly Plenary Debate of its Report.

The Clerk briefed the Committee.

11.04 am Mr Campbell and Mr Givan joined the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed the wording of its Motion for the debate of the Committee’s Report of its Review in Assembly Plenary, scheduled for 29 November 2011.

The Committee considered a draft Report of its Review.

Agreed: The Committee approved its Report, subject  a minor  amendment and addition.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to order its Report to be printed and that the Report be embargoed until the debate scheduled in Assembly Plenary on 29 November 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the number of printed copies of the Report be kept to a minimum.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that  a manuscript copy of the Report should be laid with the Business Office by the end of the day.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that, during the debate of its Report in Assembly Plenary,  the Chairperson would propose the motion and that the Deputy Chairperson would do the wind.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson write to all relevant stakeholders to thank them for their submissions to this review.

11.08 am Mr Hamilton and Mr Sheehan left the meeting

5. Review of Parts III and IV of the Northern Ireland Act

The Chairperson reminded the Committee that the purpose of this agenda item was for the Committee to consider and agree its work programme in relation to its immediate Review of Parts III and IV of the Northern Ireland Act and to receive a further briefing from Assembly Research and Information Service on the subject of the Size of the Assembly.

The Clerk briefed the Committee

The Chairperson reminded the Members that the deadline for submissions from Political Parties in relation to this Review was 7 November 2011 and requested that Members should do all within their power to get outstanding Party responses to the Committee Secretariat as soon as possible.

The following representative from the Assembly’s Research and Information Service joined the meeting:

Raymond McCaffrey – Research Officer

The representative briefed the Committee of the subject of the Size of the Assembly.

This was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that further research information should be provided on this subject.               

6.  Any Other Business

No items were raised.

7. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee will be held on 6 December 2011, at 11.00 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at  11.59 am

Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee