Assembly & Executive Review Committee

End of Session Report 2024-2025

Assembly & Executive Review Committee - End of Session Report.pdf (147.33 kb)

This is the end of session report of the Assembly & Executive Review Committee (AERC) of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 3 February 2024 to 31 August 2025.

Remit

The AERC is a Standing Committee established in accordance with Section 29A and 29B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Standing Order 59.

Powers

The Committeemay - (a) exercise the power in section 44(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; (b) report from time to time to the Assembly and the Executive Committee.

The Committee shall consider - (a) such matters relating to the operation of the provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 as enable it to make the report referred to in section 29A(3) of that Act; and (b) such other matters relating to the functioning of the Assembly and Executive Committee as may be referred to it by the Assembly.

Membership

The Committee membership at 31 August 2025 was as follows:

Mr Jonathan Buckley (Chairperson)[1]

Mr Pat Sheehan (Deputy Chairperson)[2]

Mrs Michelle Guy[3][4]

Miss Michelle McIlveen

Mr Gary Middleton

Mrs Sinead Ennis

Mrs Carál Ní Chuilin[5]

Mr Matthew O'Toole[6]

Mr John Stewart[7]

Key Activities, Outputs and Achievements

The Committee, in the process of developing its Forward Work Programme, consulted with The Executive Office, the political parties represented in the Assembly, independent Members, the Chairpersons' Liaison Group and the Committee on Procedures to seek views on potential review topics for the AERC to consider. The Committee also commissioned research on the work of similar institutional review committees in other legislatures to inform further consideration and decisions on topic selection and prioritisation.
Arising from the consultation, the Committee selected and prioritised the following review topics:

1. Assembly and Executive Reform;
2. Assembly Committee engagement on cross-cutting Executive strategies;
3. The development of a formal process and guidance on the handling of Westminster Statutory Instruments which include a role for the Assembly; and
4. Arrangements for Assembly Members' participation in inter-parliamentary and international bodies.

Assembly and Executive Reform

The Committee commissioned research to provide an up-to-date literature review and to identify additional expert witnesses and other stakeholders from which the Committee could receive supplementary evidence. An Oral evidence session was held with the Constitution Unit, University College London on its report "Reform of Stormont - Options for discussion". The Committee also used the Citizen Space platform for a public call for evidence and is in the process of analysing the 111 written submissions ahead of scheduling oral evidence sessions.

Assembly Committee engagement on cross-cutting Executive strategies

The Committee commissioned research to provide an up-to-date literature review and to identify additional expert witnesses and other stakeholders from which the Committee could receive supplementary evidence. The Committee also used the Citizen Space platform for a public call for evidence and is in the process of analysing the submissions.

The development of a formal process and guidance on the handling of Westminster Statutory Instruments which includes a role for the Assembly

The Committee commissioned research on comparative arrangements for the scrutiny of appliable Statutory Instruments in the other devolved legislatures. The Committee also used the Citizen Space platform for a public call for evidence and is in the process of analysing the submissions.

Committee meetings

The Committee held eight formal meetings during the period covered by this report. Out of the eight meetings, five were held in public session and three were held in part closed session. Part closed meetings were generally for the purpose of receiving legal advice.

Committee expenditure

The Committee expenditure for the period covered by this report is included as an Appendix.

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