Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Minutes of Porceedings 9 February 2022
AERC minutes of Proceedings 9 February 2022.pdf (153.55 kb)
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Paul Frew MLA
Kellie Armstrong MLA
George Robinson MBE MLA
Present:
Peter Weir MLA (Chairperson)
Maolíosa McHugh MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Apologies:
Colin McGrath MLA
Jim Allister QC MLA
Robbie Butler MLA
Gerry Kelly MLA
In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Marie Austin (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Ms Karen Barry (Assistant Clerk)
Dr Simon Gallaher (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 12.46pm in open session.
1. Apologies
As noted above.
The Clerk advised the Committee that Robbie Butler had provided notification that he was delegating authority, under Standing Order 115(6), to the Chairperson to vote on his behalf at today’s meeting.
2. Declaration of Interests
Kellie Armstrong declared an interest as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Women’s Caucus in regards to Agenda item 5.
No further interests were declared by Members.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2022.
4. Matters Arising
Decisions made via correspondence (under temporary Standing Order 115(9))
The Committee noted the decisions that were taken under temporary Standing Order 115(9), since the last formal Committee meeting on 19 January 2022:
Agreed: The Committee agreed to append the research paper: ‘Technical groups and opposition access to information - NIAR 275-2021’ to its Legacy Report and include applicable recommendations for the successor Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) to progress.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue further reminders to political parties who had not yet responded to its request for views on scoping the removal of the designations requirement and the method of appointing the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite representatives of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group to attend the meeting on 9 March 2022, to brief Members on its report: ‘Strengthening Committee Scrutiny’.
Agreed: Members agreed to encourage their respective parties to respond to the Committee’s request for an update on progress made under relevant recommendations contained in the 2015 AERC ‘Report on Women in Politics and the Northern Ireland Assembly’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Assembly Researchers to the AERC meeting on 9 February 2022, to brief members on the research paper: ‘Gender, diversity and good relations in a parliamentary context - NIAR 234-2021’.
5. Gender, diversity and good relations in a parliamentary context – Briefing from Assembly Research and Information Service (RaISe)
Ray McCaffrey, Assembly Researcher, joined the meeting at 12:51pm.
The Researcher briefed Members on the research paper: ‘Gender, diversity and good relations in a parliamentary context - NIAR 234-2021’.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the Researcher for the briefing.
The Committee considered a response from the Northern Ireland Assembly Women’s Caucus to its request for an update on the work it has undertaken in relation to addressing gender and diversity issues in the context of the Assembly and the Executive.
Agreed: The AERC agreed to seek details from other Assembly committees of any issues they have identified in relation to gender and diversity in the context of the Assembly and the Executive; and, for an indication of whether any relevant areas of work might be included in their Legacy Reports for successor committees to progress.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that progress made under its strategic priority: ‘Gender and diversity in the context of the Assembly and the Executive’ is reflected in its Legacy Report, including research/evidence gathered, and that the report should include recommendations for the successor AERC to progress.
6. Designations and the appointment of the First and deputy First Minister – Written submissions
The Committee noted three further written submissions received in relation to its strategic priority: ‘Designations and the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister’.
The Committee noted the progress made to date under this strategic priority.
7. Correspondence
There was no correspondence to consider.
8. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
9. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
Members noted that the Committee’s final meeting of the mandate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 9 March 2022 at 12:40pm and that the meeting place/format will be confirmed in due course.
The meeting was adjourned at 1.27pm.
Peter Weir MLA
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee
9 March 2022
