MINUTES OF THE FORTY NINTH MEETING OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMISSION HELD ON MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2009 AT 12.20PM IN ROOM 106
Present:
The Speaker
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Pat Doherty
Rev Dr Robert Coulter
Mr Sean Neeson
Mrs Carmel Hanna
In Attendance: Mr T Reaney, Mr T Logue, Mr S Welch, Mr Allen Witherspoon, Mr H Widdis and Mr R Good.
1. CHAIRMAN’S BUSINESS
The Speaker welcomed Members to an ad hoc meeting of the Assembly Commission and thanked Members for attending at short notice. He also welcomed Mr Allen Witherspoon who will be acting Director of Facilities/Keeper of the House during the period of Stephen Welch’s absence.
The Speaker informed Members that he had called this meeting to brief the Commission on a potential breach in data security. He asked the Clerk/Director General to provide an update on the circumstances surrounding the matter to Members.
2. DATA SECURITY
The Clerk/Director General briefed Members and answered questions on a potential breach in data security in relation to MLAs’ expenses historic information.
He informed Members that an internal investigation was currently being undertaken, led by Head of Internal Audit. The Clerk/Director General confirmed that he would keep Members informed of all developments as the investigation progressed.
The Clerk/Director General proposed that the on-going work in relation to the publication of details of expense claims made by Members from Office Cost Allowance (OCA) for the period April 2003 - March 2008, which was intended for release by the end of November 2009, should now be published as soon as possible. The Commission approved this request.
3. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Assembly Commission to be arranged for Thursday 15 October 2009, as part of the Commission visit to Dublin.
The meeting ended at 12.45pm.