Official Report: Minutes of Evidence

The Chairperson (Mr Nesbitt): We considered this at our meeting on 10 February. The Committee agreed then that it was content for the order to be made but recommended that a review be undertaken six months after it came into operation. Since we considered the SL1, a number of changes, mainly technical in nature, have been made, and they are listed at page 106 of your main pack. The order follows at page 107. It was not laid in time for inclusion in the most recent report by the Examiner of Statutory Rules; however, he has indicated by email that he has no points to raise by way of his technical scrutiny. For information, a copy of that email is in your tabled pack at page 21. The order will be included in the next report by the Examiner.

Before I put the formal Question, do members have any comments? In that case, I will put the Question: are members agreed that the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has considered SR 2016/76, the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016, and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly?

The Chairperson (Mr Nesbitt): We are all agreed. Thank you.

Mr Attwood: Agreeing that is without prejudice to the comments that we will make on the Floor. There is incongruity in the transfer of functions order. You transfer the functions, but you do not transfer the function of nomination of the Children's Commissioner and the Older People’s Commissioner and so on and so forth. It does not measure up.

The Chairperson (Mr Nesbitt): That is formally noted.