COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 12th DECEMBER 2007
Room 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr Willie Clarke
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
In Attendance:
Dr Kevin Pelan (Clerk to the Committee)
Miss Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr George Savage
Mr Brian Wilson
The meeting opened at 1:09pm in public session.
Chairperson’s Introduction.
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the fifteenth meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Declaration of Interests.
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 5 th December 2007.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 5 th December 2007.
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Matters Arising.
There were no matters arising.
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Review of the ‘Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members’: Categories of Registrable Interests 8, 10 and 11.
Rev Coulter joined the meeting at 1:11pm
Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 1:12pmMembers considered a paper on Categories 8, 10 and 11 of the ‘Categories of Registrable Interests’ section of the Guide.
Agreed: Members agreed a number of proposed amendments to Registrable Interest Category 8 (Land and Property) for inclusion in the consultation document.
Agreed: Members agreed that Category 11 (Unremunerated Interests) should be removed and that these interests could be incorporated into Category 10 (Miscellaneous).
Agreed: Members agreed that an additional category encompassing memberships of societies etc. was not required, and that such information could be incorporated into Category 10.
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AOB.
The Chairperson informed Members that the Committee had received a new complaint, and that in accordance with procedures the complaint had been forwarded to the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9th January at 1:00pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1:39 pm.