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COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY, 23RD APRIL 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr Willie Clarke (Deputy Chairperson)
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mrs Claire McGill
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Brian Wilson

In Attendance:
Dr Kevin Pelan (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr George Savage

The meeting opened at 2.04pm in public session.

Chairperson’s Introduction

The Chairperson welcomed Members to the twenty fourth meeting of the Committee.

Agreed: Members agreed to hold the meeting in public session and move into closed session at a later stage of the meeting.

  1. Apologies.

    2. Apologies are detailed above.

  2. Declaration of Interests.

    3. 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 9th April 2008.

    4. Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 9 th April..

  4. Matters Arising.

    5. There were no matters arising.

Rev Coulter joined the meeting at 2.06pm

  1. Review of the Code and Guide: Draft Consultation Document.

    Members considered the Draft Consultation Document
    The Committee read and agreed the Cover Page
    The Committee read and agreed Committee Powers and Membership subject to amendment
    The Committee deferred agreeing the Table of Contents until it had agreed the entire content of the document.
    The Committee read and agreed the Background.
    The Committee read and agreed Issues Considered by the Committee.
    The Committee considered the revised structure of the Code and Guide and agreed that the guiding principles of the Code should be contained in the introductory Volume I.
    The Committee read and agreed Volume I subject to proposed amendment.
    The Committee read and agreed Volume II subject to proposed amendment.
    The Committee read and agreed Volume III subject to proposed amendment.
    The Committee read and agreed Category 1 (Directorships).
    The Committee read and agreed Category 2 (Remunerated Employment, Office, Profession etc.)
    The Committee read and agreed Category 3 (Elected/Public Office) subject to proposed amendment.
    The Committee read and agreed Category 4 (Election Support and Political Donations) subject to amendment.

Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 2.50pm
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 2.54pm
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 3.16pm
Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting at 3.20pm
Mrs McGill left the meeting at 3.34pm
Mr Ross left the meeting at 3.44pm
Mr Ross rejoined the meeting at 3.45pm

The meeting moved into closed session at 3.57pm

  1. Committee Correspondence.

Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 3.58pm

Rev Coulter declared an interest in the next item and stated that he felt it appropriate to leave the meeting before deliberations commenced.

Rev Coulter left the meeting at 3.59pm.

The Chairperson referred members to Tab B which contained correspondence received by the Committee.

Agreed:The Committee instructed the Clerk to draft letters of response to each piece of correspondence and bring before the Committee for approval at its next meeting.

  1. Any Other Business.

The Committee discussed a Member’s request to defer meeting with the Committee from 7 th May until the 14 th May 2008.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer this meeting until 14 th May 2008.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 30 th April. Time and room number to be announced.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.37pm.

MRS CARMEL HANNA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges.
30th April 2008.

09 April 08 / Menu