COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 20th May 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clarke (deputy Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Rev. Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
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: Mrs Claire McGill
The meeting opened at 9.35am in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the twenty seventh meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: Members 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 14th May 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 14th May.
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Matters Arising.
The Chairperson advised Members that Mr Ian Paisley Jnr had requested a copy of the transcript of the meeting on the 14 th May.
Agreed: Members agreed that Mr Ian Paisley Jnr be provided with a copy of the transcript.
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Ian Paisley Jnr
The Chairperson reminded Members that the reason for the meeting was to conclude the Committee’s consideration of contempt of the Committee by Mr Ian Paisley Jnr; namely that he continued to maintain comments on his website which misrepresented a decision of the Committee and the conclusions of a report by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 9.38pm.
The Chairperson emphasised the need to give due consideration to finding a way forward on this based on consensus. The Committee briefly discussed the possibility of writing to Mr Paisley Jnr and again requesting that he remove the remarks and advising him on the possibility of sanctions should he not comply.
A motion was then moved by Mr Ross that the Committee should take no further action.
This was seconded by Mr EastonMr Savage joined the meeting at 9.45pm.
A second brief discussion followed again in an attempt to seek consensus. A vote was then taken on the motion.
The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 4
AYES
Alastair Ross
Alex Easton
Allan Bresland
David Hilditch
George Savage
Rev. Robert CoulterNOES
Carmel Hanna
Willie Clarke
Francie Brolly
Brian Wilson
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
Wednesday 4 th June 2008, at 10.00am in Room 152.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 9.50am.