02 November 2001
The committee is an assembly of regional government representatives, which the European Commission must consult on matters affecting local authorities.
Elsewhere in the UK, nominations are made after consultation with local government. But the Northern Ireland Local Government Association believes that the province's nominations will be put forward without asking for its views.
The NI LGA is angry at the lack of consultation of local authorities by the Northern Ireland Executive.
The judicial review would specifically examine whether the first minister and deputy first minister have a legal duty to consult local authorities over the nominations.
This latest dispute is part of continuing tension between the Northern Ireland Assembly and local government. Councils feel marginalised by the lack of consultation on a wide range of matters.
They are also unhappy that the promised review of public administration, including the roles of quangos and local authorities, is not yet under way and lack confidence that they will have a major input into the review.
Raymond McKay, chief executive of NI LGA, refused to comment on the possible judicial review, but he confirmed that local authorities were unhappy.
'We want what we had before, a consultative committee including representatives of local authorities,' said McKay. 'It worked well, particularly dealing with finance, but it was abandoned in 1984.'
A spokesman for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister said that talk of the ministers facing a judicial review was premature.
'The Northern Ireland process for nominating to the Committee of the Regions has not yet been determined,' said a spokesman. 'It's therefore too early to comment.'
The Northern Ireland Office's spokeswoman said nominations were a matter for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister: 'We know nothing about this.'
PFnov2001
