§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which(a) bodies and (b) individuals the Law Reform Advisory Committee has consulted on judicial review; and when it will issue its report. [26736]
§ Sir John WheelerThe Law Reform Advisory Committee has held consultations with the following individuals and bodies:
- The Northern Ireland Prison Service
- The Crown Solicitors Office
- Crown Counsel, Mr. Patrick Coghlin Q.C
- Mr. Ronald Weatherup Q.C
- Mr. Bernard McCluskey B.L
- Mr. John Larkin B.L
- Mr. Kevin Winter, Solicitor
- Mr. Justice Kerr
- Mr. Jack Burton
- Professor Brigid Hadfield.
The first draft of a report on judicial review is still at an early stage; it is too early yet to judge when it will be issued.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been commissioned by the Law Reform Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland on a consultancy basis; what fees have been paid for such research; and what consideration has been given to the appointment of a full-time researcher. [26735]
§ Sir John WheelerSince its inception in 1989, the Law Reform Advisory Committee has used consultants on certain topics. Mrs. Norma Dawson, Mr. John Jackson and Mrs. Eithne Harkness, from the school of law at Queen's university, Belfast, have conducted research in the areas of business tenancies, civil evidence and actions arising from insidious diseases respectively.
The fees paid for research commissioned by the committee to date amounts to the sum of £4.300.00.
Consideration has been given to the appointment of a full-time researcher, but it is the presently held view that the use of an expert consultant in particular areas is a more constructive deployment of committee fund.