The PSNI Chief Constable, George Hamilton, told MLAs he did not want to "lead people on a merry dance" regarding the police service's ability to cope with financial challenges, on 8 October 2014.

Committee chairman Paul Givan of the DUP asked about the role of a new Legacy Investigations Branch, which was to replace the Historical Enquiries Team, and a number of other functions, but on a smaller scale.

Mr Hamilton said that "the speed that this is happening does mean it is slightly chaotic".

He said they were trying to "bring together under one command and create accountability mechanisms into one branch the work previously conducted by all of those functions".

"Keeping people safe today" would have to be a priority above legacy issues, the chief constable said.

On the wider issue of budget savings, Mr Hamilton said early indications for 2015-16 were for 10% to 15% in-year cuts.

This would result in "a police service that is unrecognisable", he said.

The DUP's Paul Frew asked about the impact on policing of the non-introduction of the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Northern Ireland.

Mr Hamilton said there was "a tangible impact" on the police through not having the NCA.

He said that, initially, he had reservations about the NCA's accountability but he was satisfied those had now been met.

The main area that was "making us tackle crime with one, maybe two hands behind our back" was arrangements over the recovery of assets, the chief constable said.

"We need to get either another arrangement in place, or get some sort of political consensus around the legislation required for the use of the NCA in this jurisdiction," he added.

Mr Hamilton was asked about the costs of policing the loyalist protests at Twaddell Avenue, in north Belfast.

He said that, in the 407 days since the protest started, the total cost was £13.5m.

Sinn Fein's Raymond McCartney asked the chief constable if he agreed that the British government should take up some of the legacy costs of the Troubles, including, for instance, police hearing-loss claims.

Mr Hamilton said that was in the political sphere and not a matter for the chief constable, although he was happy to accept funding wherever it came from.

Justice Department (DOJ) officials then briefed the committee on the criminal law on abortion in cases of lethal foetal abnormality and sexual crime.

The justice minister had published a consultation paper on these aspects of abortion law.

Karen Pearson of the DOJ said the intention was to amend the criminal law on abortion "to a very limited degree" and there was no intention to introduce the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.

Referring to the terminology used in the consultation document, Mr Givan asked "at what point does the foetus become a baby?"

Amanda Patterson of the DOJ said the term "foetus" was used "right up until the point of birth" and it was the medical terminology they had been asked to use.

The DUP's Edwin Poots said it was "just Latin, which isn't used in other medical terms any more", and that the use of Latin "clouds the issue".

Stewart Dickson of Alliance said he believed it was "a very courageous decision" by the department to open the subject for debate.