COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

Minutes of Proceedings
WEDNESDAY, 5th SEPTEMBER 2007
Room 135, 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 Gerry McHugh
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
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)

The meeting opened at 2:03pm in closed session.

Chairperson’s Introduction.

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

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Declaration of Interests.

The Chairman reminded members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each committee meeting.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 4th July 2007.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 4 th July 2007.

Rev Coulter joined the meeting at 2:06pm.

4. Matters Arising.

There were no matters arising.

5. Report on 1 st Complaint by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

Dr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie joined the meeting at 2.08pm

The Chairperson welcomed Dr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie to the meeting.

The Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards made a presentation to the Committee on his report relating to the first complaint. Following the presentation, Members discussed with the Interim Commissioner a range of issues that he had raised in his report.

Mr McHugh left the meeting at 3:09pm
Mr Wilson left the meeting at 3.10pm
Dr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie left the meeting at 3.16pm
Mr McHugh rejoined the meeting at 3:18pm

The Chairperson invited Members to make further comment on the Interim Commissioner’s report. The Chairperson advised Members to exercise caution in consideration of their conclusions given that Committee’s decision in relation to this particular complaint had the potential to set a precedent for the Committee’s consideration of similar cases in the future.

Following discussion Mr Easton proposed that:

The Committee should adopt the conclusion of the Interim Commissioner’s report.

The proposal was seconded by Mr Ross.

The Committee divided: Ayes: 6; Noes 4

AYES	NOES
A Bresland	F Brolly
A Easton	W Clarke
D Hilditch	C Hanna
A Ross	G McHugh
G Savage
Rev R Coulter

The Motion was carried.

The Clerk was instructed by the Committee to prepare a report for consideration at its next meeting.
The Chairperson advised Members that at the beginning of the complaint process the complainant had requested that his name be withheld due to the sensitive nature of the complaint. The Chairperson stated that this request had been complied with throughout the investigation and that the complainant’s name had remained confidential.

F ollowing discussion Mr Brolly proposed that:
The complainant’s name should be withheld from the report of the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

The proposal was seconded by Mr McHugh.

The Committee divided: Ayes: 4; Noes 0

AYES:
F Brolly
W Clarke
C Hanna
G McHugh

The Motion was carried.

6. Any Other Business.

The Chairperson requested that Members advise the Committee staff of their availability for the Committee’s visit to the Standards Committee in Scottish Parliament on 24 th October.

7. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 th September at 2:00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.55pm.

CARMEL HANNA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges.
12th September 2007

04 July 2007 / MENU