§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received from the Bar Council of Northern Ireland concerning the proposed role of members of the Bar appointed by the Attorney-General to represent parties excluded from hearings before tribunals under the National Security Certificate procedure; what replies she has sent; if she will make a statement; and if she will place the relevant correspondence in the Library.[60438]
§ Marjorie MowlamThe Chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland wrote to me on 5 November 1998 expressing a preliminary view on the proposed role of members of the Bar appointed by the Attorney-General to represent parties excluded from hearings before the proposed National Security Certificate Tribunal. The letter was copied to the Attorney-General. As the point raised related substantially to the operation of the Bar's Code of Conduct, the Attorney-General replied to the letter on 13 November. With my agreement, the letter was expressed to be a response on my behalf also.
I do not intend to make a statement but I will arrange to have copies of the two letters placed in the Library.