Committee for Justice

minutes of proceedings 15 February 2022

Committee for Justice minutes 15 Feb 22.pdf (141.89 kb)

Meeting Location:
Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Belfast

Present:
Mr Mervyn Storey MLA (Chairperson)
Ms Jemma Dolan MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Doug Beattie MLA
Ms Rachel Woods MLA

Apologies:
Ms Sinéad Ennis MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Robin Newton MLA

In Attendance:
Mrs Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Mr Stephen Corr (Clerical Supervisor)

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Mrs Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

The meeting commenced at 10:02 a.m. in public session.

Peter Weir MLA declared an interest as he is registered as a non-practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted that the oral evidence session with the Minister of Justice on the draft budget would not be reported by Hansard due to the volume of Plenary work.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Department of Justice Draft Budget 2022 - 2025 – Oral evidence session with the Minister of Justice and Departmental Officials

The Committee noted correspondence from the Police Service of Northern Ireland following the oral evidence session at the meeting on 10 February 2022 regarding how the service is funded and its dependence on non-recurrent and unsustainable funding.

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, MLA, Peter May, Permanent Secretary and Maryann Smith, Deputy Director, Financial Services Division, Department of Justice, joined the meeting at 10:04 a.m.

The Minister of Justice outlined the Department of Justice Draft Budget 2022 – 2025 and the basis for a 2% budget reduction planning process and the associated implications and consequences.

The oral evidence was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the Minister of Justice and Departmental Officials for their attendance.

The Chairperson advised Members that a draft response to the Committee for Finance on the Department of Justice Draft 2022-25 Budget would be circulated for consideration and agreement at the meeting on Thursday 17 February 2022.