Part of Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:22 pm on 5 February 2002.
Sylvia Hermon
Shadow Spokesperson (Women), Shadow Spokesperson (Trade and Industry), Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
6:22,
5 February 2002
That is right.
In paragraph 3.25 of the criminal justice review, the review team recommend that
''human rights issues should become a permanent and integral part of training programmes for all those working in criminal justice agencies, the legal professions and the relevant parts of the voluntary sector.''
On the basis of that recommendation I am happy to support the part of the Amendment of the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh that refers to consultation with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Given my track record of criticism of it, that is a major advance on my part.
The bad news is that I am concerned by the reference to the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. I am specifically concerned by it because of the terms of reference that the review team lays down in the agreement, which are usefully quoted on page 2. The review group was duty bound under its terms of reference to consider
''arrangements for the organisation and supervision of the prosecution process, and for safeguarding its independence.''
Quite frankly, I do not believe that it is appropriate that the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister—I notice that on this occasion they do not have to act jointly—should consult on the code for prosecutors when two MLAs are being consulted.
Paragraph (c) of the new subsection proposed by the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh concerns me because it is open-ended and too wide. It mentions
''any other person appearing to the Director to have an interest in the matter''.
I would like him to give some idea of the scope of the provision and of the people who are covered by that paragraph.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
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Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
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