Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY, 20TH 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 George Savage

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 Brian Wilson

The meeting opened at 2:00pm in closed session.

Chairperson’s Introduction.

The Chairperson welcomed Members to the third meeting of the Committee.

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

  1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. Declaration of Interests.

The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant interests before and during each committee meeting. Members noted the recent amendments to Committee Members’ Declarations of Interest.

Mr Bresland joined the meeting at 2:03pm.

  1. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6th June 2007.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 6th June 2007.

  1. Matters Arising.

There were no matters arising.

  1. Register of Members’ Interests.

The Clerk informed the Committee that each Member of the Assembly has been sent a copy of their entry in the new edition of the Register for verification prior to the publication of the Register. The Clerk advised that the Committee might wish to resolve to publish the Register at the next meeting.

  1. Correspondence.

The Chairperson informed Members that, as agreed at last meeting of the committee, she had written to the Assembly Ombudsman accepting his offer to undertake the role of Assembly Commissioner for Standards on an interim basis. Members noted a copy of the letter.

The Chairperson informed Members that the Clerk has received a second letter of complaint against a Member of the Assembly. The Chairperson advised Members that the Clerk has written to the complainant acknowledging receipt of the complaint and to the Member informing them of the complaint. The Chairperson informed Members that the complaint had also been passed to the interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

Members discussed the procedure for handling complaints against Members of the Assembly and requested that the Clerk circulate a copy of the complaints procedures before the next meeting.

  1. Background Paper on Previous Inquiry.

The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to a background paper on the previous Committee’s Inquiry into the Possible Appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

  1. AOB.

The Chairperson informed the Committee that the two Members who had complaints outstanding from the previous mandate have decided to withdraw the complaints.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that no further action should be taken in relation to the complaints.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4th July at 2:00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.40pm.

CARMEL HANNA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges.

4th July 2007

06 June 2007 / MENU