1. NI Assembly Committees
This Northern Irish sky needs some clouds…
NI Assembly Committees

2. Dia Duit Arlene. Tell me this,
Well Martin, Committees are a group of 11 MLA’S who look after a particular focus in the NI Assembly.
Dia Duit Arlene. Tell me this,
What are committees?

3. What is a committees role?
Jimmy! Question for you.
What is a committees role?
The committees role is to LSR, Legislate (Pass Legislation or make amendments), Scrutinise (Hold the executive to account) and Represent public views.

4. How is committee membership decided?
Committees are big part of consociationalism. In committees power sharing is achieved, as everyone is picked through d’hondt.
Naomi,
How is committee membership decided?

5. Keep on telling me about how membership is decided.
If the minister of the committee is in the DUP. Then the chairperson of the committee will be Sinn Fein more than likely. Deputy CP would be a unionist party (UUP or DUP) in this example
Keep on telling me about how membership is decided.

6. What are the 4 types of Committee in the NI Assembly
I’ll tell you what the 4 types of committees are Fra.
Statutory
Standing
AD Hoc
Joint
Here Nelson,
What are the 4 types of Committee in the NI Assembly

7. Lets go inside

8. What are statutory committees?
They are set up to; Advise, Assist and scrutinise ministers and their executive departments.
There are 9 statutory committees- one for each of the 8 government departments and the committee for the office of the FM &DFM.
Their roles are legislate, scrutinise and represent.

9. Key Powers of Statutory committees
Consider and advise all their department’s budget and annual plans
Consider secondary legislation and take the committee stage of primary legislation
Initiate inquiries and make reports.
Consider matters brought to their attention by the Minister.
Initiate legislation
Call for Persons and Papers (Next Slide)

10. What are Persons and Papers?
When a committee want to find information from people or documents that have experienced the topic of conversation that the committee are talking about.
Persons and Papers are required to attend the committee meetings or face a fine or 3 months in jail.
Taxi Bill example
The committee would call in people to do with the bill like taxi drivers and people who are use taxis.

11. Standing Committees
Standing committees have a dedicated role to do with the overall running of the assembly and the exucutive.
Currently there are 6 standing committees. These are; Business committee, standards and priveleges, audit committee, assembly and executive review committee, committee on procedures and public accounts.
They are set up under the assembly standing orders.

12. AD Hoc These are set up as temporary committees.
These are set up to deal with specific issues.
They have two months to review issues and report back.
Examples
Ad Hoc committee on flags and emblems.
They replaced paramilitary based murals with cultural and historical based murals.

13. Joint Committee Set up to deal with cross-departmental issues. Example
Horse meat scandal in 2014
The finance and Trade & Enterprise department joined up to deal with the horse meat scandal.