COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 10TH OCTOBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
In Attendance: Dr Kevin Pelan (Clerk to the Committee)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Brian Wilson
The meeting opened at 2:09pm in public session.
Chairperson’s Introduction.
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the eighth meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests.
The Chairperson 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 26th September 2007.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 26th September 2007.
4. Matters Arising.
There were no matters arising.
5. Committee Review of the “Code of Conduct”.
The Committee considered a paper which provided a comparison of the Northern Ireland Assembly Code of Conduct with Codes of Conduct in other legislatures.
Mr Savage joined the meeting at 2.39pm
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 2:50pm
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 2:55pm
Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting at 3.03pm
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 3.06pm
The Committee discussed the “Purpose of the Code” and the “Personal Conduct” sections of the Northern Ireland Assembly “Code of Conduct”. The Committee instructed the Clerk to prepare revised drafts of these sections for possible inclusion in the draft consultation document taking into account the Committee’s deliberations.
6. Committee Forward Work Programme.
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and the change of room for meetings held on alternate weeks.
7. Itinerary for the Committee’s Visit to the Scottish Parliament.
Members noted the itinerary for the Committee’s visit to the Scottish Parliament Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee on the 24th October.
8. AOB.
The Clerk advised Members that the Committee has received two complaints and that in keeping with current procedures these have been passed to the Interim Commissioner for Standards.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 17th October at 1:00pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.30 pm.