COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
Minutes of Proceedings
WEDNESDAY, 12th 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 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 Gerry McHugh
Mr George Savage
The meeting opened at 2:09pm in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction.
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the sixth meeting of the Committee.
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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 September 2007.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 5 th September 2007.
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Matters Arising.
The Chairperson referred Members to the public debate that had ensued following the Committee’s meeting on the 5 th September, and reminded Members of the necessity to maintain absolute confidentiality in respect of complaints under consideration by the Committee.
The Chairperson stated that while the Committee had already agreed to review the Members’ Code of Conduct as part of its work programme, this should be taken forward as a matter of priority.
Agreed: Members agreed the that Clerk develop a work programme for the Committee in relation to the Review of the Members’ Code of Conduct.
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Consideration of Draft Committee Report on Complaint Against Mr Ian Paisley Junior.
The Draft Committee Report, proposed by the Chairperson, having been circulated, is taken as read the first time.
Ordered, That the draft Committee Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Front cover of Report read and agreed.
Committee Powers and Membership
Paragraphs 1 to 6 read and agreed.
Committee Report
Paragraph 1 read and agreed.
Paragraph 2 read and agreed.
Paragraph 3 read and agreed.
Paragraph 4 read and agreed subject to amendment.
Paragraph 5 read and agreed.
Paragraph 6 read and agreed.
Paragraph 7 read and agreed subject to amendment.
Paragraph 8 read and agreed.
Paragraph 9 read and agreed.
Paragraph 10 read and agreed.Rev Coulter drew attention to the apparent contradiction between paragraphs 4 and 10 of the Committee’s draft report.
Agreed: Members agreed to adopt the report in its entirety and ordered that the report be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson would agree the Minutes of Proceedings to allow an extract to be included in the Committee’s Report.
Agreed: Members considered a draft press release and agreed that it be issued.
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Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards Report on the 3 rd Complaint.
The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to the Interim Commissioner’s report on the 3 rd complaint received by the Committee. This report relates to a complaint made by CoSO (Coalition for Sexual Orientation) about comments by Mr Ian Paisley Junior regarding sexual orientation.
Agreed: Members agreed that this issue had already been addressed in its deliberations and Committee Report relating to the 1 st complaint and that no further action should be taken.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk will write to CoSO advising that the Committee will take no further action in respect of the Interim Commissioner’s report into this matter.
Agreed: Members agreed that this letter be appended with a copy of the Committee’s report on the 1 st complaint and a copy of the report by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards relating to CoSO’s specific complaint.
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AOB.
The Chairperson requested that Members inform the Committee staff of their availability for the Committee’s visit to the Scottish Parliament Standards Committee on the 24 th October.
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 26 th September at 2:00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.16pm.
CARMEL HANNA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges.
26 th September 2007