COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 28th November 2007
Room 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Willie Clarke
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
Mr Brian Wilson
In Attendance:
Dr Kevin Pelan (Clerk to the Committee)
Miss Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
The meeting opened at 1.07pm in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction.
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the thirteenth meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in closed session.
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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 21 st November 2007.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 21 st November 2007.
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Matters Arising.
There were no matters arising.
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Complaints.
Members noted correspondence relating to complaints against two Assembly Members
to be discussed with the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards during his presentation.
Mr Savage joined the meeting at 1:12pm.
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Presentation by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Chairperson advised Members that the Interim Commissioner would discuss the two recent complaints and a number of issues that had been raised during the course of the Committee’s review of the Code of Conduct and Guide.
Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie joined the meeting at 1:14pm
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie to the meeting.
The Interim Commissioner discussed his findings in relation to the two most recent complaints with the Committee.
The Interim Commissioner then discussed with the Committee issues relating to Standing Orders 64 and 65 and section 43 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which the Committee is considering as part of it review of the Code of Conduct and Guide.
Members noted that draft Memorandum of Agreement between Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Crown Service and Procurator Fiscal Service in regards to the referral of suspected criminal offences.
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 1:50pm
Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie left the meeting at 1:51pmAgreed: That a letter to the complainant be issued stating the Committee’s agreement with the conclusions of the Interim Commissioner for Standards.
Agreed: That the Clerk liaise with the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards to examine the need for developing a Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding between the Committee and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Agreed: That the Clerk further investigate the issues discussed with Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards and submit a paper for the Committee’s consideration after the Christmas recess.
Mr McHugh joined the meeting at 1:55pm
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Review of the ‘Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members’: Categories of Registrable Interests 1-3
Members considered a paper on Categories 1-3 of the ‘Categories of Registrable Interests’ section of the Guide.
Mr Ross joined the meeting at 2:10pm
Agreed: Members agreed that aspects of Category 3 (Clients) should be incorporated into Categories 1 and 2 but that the remainder of these categories remain unaltered.
Agreed: Members agreed that paragraph 19 of Category 3 should be considered when the ‘Advocacy’ section of the code is reviewed after Christmas recess.
Agreed: Members agreed that a new Category on “Elected/Public Office’ should be created.
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AOB.
The Clerk advised Members that the Committee has received another complaint and that in keeping with current procedures this has been passed to the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 5th December at 2:00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2:29 pm.