Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY, 6TH JUNE 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS


Present: Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Gerry McHugh (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Brian Wilson

In Attendance: Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Dr Kevin Pelan (Clerk to the Committee)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mr Willie Clarke
Mr George Savage

The meeting opened at 2:01pm in closed session.

Chairperson’s Introduction.
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the second meeting of the Committee.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in closed session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Declaration of Interests.

The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare and relevant financial or other interests before and during each committee meeting.

Agreed: The updated Declarations of Interests were agreed.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 30th May 2007.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 30th May 2007.

4. Matters Arising.

There were no matters arising.

5. Correspondence.

Agreed: Members agreed the Committee’s responses to correspondence received from CiNI and the Clerk to the Assembly.

6. Presentation by the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie joined the meeting at 2:10pm

Mr Frawley made a presentation to the Committee on the work of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman and on his role as Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards during the previous mandate. The presentation was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie left the meeting at 2:39pm

The Chairperson reminded Members that, in the absence of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards, it was important that the Committee takes into consideration the establishment of interim arrangements for dealing with complaints against Assembly Members.

The Committee noted Mr Frawley’s willingness to continue to act as interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards which included the investigation of complaints against Members on a case-by-case basis.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland requesting that he undertake the role of Assembly Commissioner for Standards on an interim basis.

Agreed: Members considered a draft press release and agreed that it be issued.

7. Any Other Business

The Chairperson notified the Committee that a complaint against a Member has been received.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20th June at 2:00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.53pm.

CARMEL HANNA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges.
20th June 2007

 

COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

Declaration of Interests

Updated 6th June 2007

Mrs Carmel Hanna

(Chair)

Category 8: Land and Property

Member, Belfast City Council

Mr Gerry McHugh

(Deputy Chair)

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Member, Fermanagh District Council.

Category 8: Land and Property

Small Farm of 23 acres, Fermanagh.

Category 11: Unremunerated Interests

Director, Women in Agriculture.
Member, Northern Ireland Agricultural Providers Association.
Member, Drainage Council.
Member, Board of Governors, St Mary’s Primary School, Tempo.

Mr Allan Bresland

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Member, Strabane District Council.
Member, Strabane Policing Board.

Mr Francie Brolly

Return indicated no relevant interests to declare.

Mr Willie Clarke

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Chairman, Down District Council.

Category 11: Unremunerated InterestsMember, East Border Region Committee.

 

Rev Dr Robert Coulter

Category 11: Unremunerated Interests

Chairman, Castle Tower Special School.
Director, Dunfane Special School.
Member, Mid-Antrim Motor Cycle Club.
President, Clough Senior Citizens Association.
Member, Mid-Antrim B Specials Association.
Member, Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Member, Ballymena Shop Mobility Association.
Member, Orange Institution.
Member, Royal Black Institution.
Member, Royal British Legion.

Mr Alex Easton

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Member, North Down Borough Council.
Member, North Down District Policing Partnership.

Mr David Hilditch

Category 1: Directorships

Causeway Coast and Glens Regional Tourism Partnership (on behalf of Carrickfergus Council).

Carrickfergus Development Company (on behalf of Carrickfergus Borough Council).

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.
Member, Carrickfergus Borough Council.
Member, Carrickfergus District Policing Partnership.

Category 5: Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality (UK)
Invitation from McDonalds to attend FA Community Shield, 2005/2006.

Category 10: Miscellaneous
In receipt of Disability Living Allowance since retirement on ill-health grounds.

Category 11: Unremunerated Interests
Director (unremunerated), Carrick Rangers Football Club Ltd.
Trustee, Castlemara Residents Association.
Trustee, Windsor Residents Association.

Mr Alastair Ross

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Employed as a Parliamentary Researcher for Sammy Wilson, MP (employment due to terminate in a number of weeks when a replacement is found).

Mr George Savage

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Beef and Dairy Farmer, Donaghacloney.

Category 8: Land and Property
Farmland, Donaghacloney.

Category 11: Unremunerated Interests.
Chairman, Iveagh Farmers Group.
Chairman, Donaghacloney Royal British Legion.
Member, Donaghacloney Housing Association.
Director, Glenavon Football Club.

Mr Brian Wilson

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc.

Member, North Down Borough Council.