Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC)
Minutes of Proceedings - 21 April 2026
Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) - 21 April 2026.pdf (181.29 kb)
Meeting Location:
Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Pat Sheehan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Sinéad Ennis MLA
Michelle Guy MLA
Michelle McIlveen MLA
Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Matthew O’Toole MLA
Attendance by video:
John Stewart MLA
Apologies:
Jonathan Buckley MLA (Chairperson)
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer, Committee Clerk
Ashleigh Mitford, Senior Assistant Clerk
Elaine Farrell, Assistant Clerk
Laura Gourley, Clerical Supervisor
Alison Ferguson, Clerical Officer
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commence the meeting in open session to consider agenda item 6 first due to potential quorum issues.
The meeting commenced at 9.48 a.m. in open session.
The Deputy Chairperson acknowledged the contribution made by Gary Middleton as a member of the Committee and thanked him on behalf of the Committee and wished him well.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson advised Members of the ongoing requirement to declare relevant financial or other interests, as and when they arise, and before taking part in any Assembly proceedings, including Committee proceedings, relating to that matter.
No declarations were declared at this point in the meeting.
3. Draft minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2026.
4. Matters arising
None.
5. Review into Assembly and Executive Reform – oral evidence session
The Committee Clerk updated the Committee on future oral evidence sessions and other issues related to the review of evidence gathering process.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule separate oral evidence sessions with Eoin Tennyson MLA (representing Alliance) and Jon Burrows MLA (representing the Ulster Unionist Party) on 12 May 2026.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule separate oral evidence sessions with Claire Hanna MP (representing the SDLP) and Gerry Carroll MLA (representing People Before Profit) after summer recess.
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from Dr Maria Xiouri, University of Lincoln advising that she can only provide oral evidence 2 June 2026 on the treaty aspects of reform that she referenced in her published journal article.
Agreed: The Committee agreed for the oral evidence session to be recorded by Hansard.
The following representatives from Community Dialogue and the Peace Summit Partnership joined the meeting at 9.52 a.m.
Anne Carr, Board Member, Community Dialogue
Dympna McGlade, Community Dialogue and Lead, Peace Summit Partnership
Dr Lyn Moffett, Board Member, Community Dialogue
The representatives briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.
Matthew O’Toole joined the meeting at 9.54 a.m.
Michelle McIlveen left the meeting at 9.59 a.m.
Sinéad Ennis left the meeting at 10.00 a.m.
Michelle Guy joined the meeting at 10.05 a.m.
John Stewart left the meeting at 10.09 a.m.
Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 10.12 a.m.
The meeting suspended at 10.12 a.m. due to loss of quorum.
Carál Ní Chuilín rejoined the meeting at 10.17 a.m.
The meeting resumed at 10.17 a.m.
Matthew O’Toole left the meeting at 10.44 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.44 a.m. due to loss of quorum.
Jonathan Buckley MLA
Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee
12 May 2026
