COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 26th NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
In Attendance:
Mr Paul Gill (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Paula McManus (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clarke (Deputy Chair)
The meeting commenced at 2.06pm in public session – the Clerk in the Chair.
In the absence of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson the Clerk invited Members to nominate a Member to take the Chair for today’s meeting.
Mr Craig proposed that Mr Ross take the Chair. Mr Brolly seconded this and the nomination was accepted.
On there being no further nominations the Clerk put the question without debate.
Resolved , that Mr Ross, being the only Member proposed, be Chairperson of the Committee for today’s meeting.
2.07pm the meeting was suspended.
2.12pm the meeting resumed.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the meeting.
1. Apologies
Apologies as 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 12 th November 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 th November 2008 were approved by the Committee.
Proposed: Mr Jonathan Craig
Seconded: Mr Francie Brolly
4. Matters arising
Agreed: The Committee noted legal advice on the issue of handling complaints during suspension and agreed that no further information was needed.
The Committee moved into closed session at 2.14pm .
5. Liaising with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
Agreed: Members agreed a draft letter to the PSNI.
Members noted that there is a requirement under the Data Protection Act for Members to register as Data Controllers, in order to process constituency work.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee should write to Party Whips asking them to draw Members attention to this requirement.
The Committee moved into public session at 2.17pm.
6. Review of the Code of Conduct
Members noted the background paper prepared by the Clerk on outstanding issues.
Agreed: Members agreed that the draft Code issued for consultation should be redrafted so that it still allows for members to vote when they have an unregistered interest (although they should register the unregistered interest immediately afterwards).
Agreed: Members agreed that anonymity for complainants should only be considered within the context of the publication of a report and not within the context of their name being withheld from the Member complained of.
Agreed: Members agreed with the conclusions of the House of Commons’ Committee on Standards and Privileges on concerns about the rule governing advocacy and the initiation of proceedings and agreed that the Advocacy Rule should be amended accordingly.
The Committee noted that further issues had been identified which would require further consideration by the Committee before the Code could be agreed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should prepare a paper on these issues for consideration by the Committee at the next meeting and that the Code would not be debated in the Chamber until after the Christmas recess.
7. Committee visit to Westminster
The Chairperson thanked the committee office staff for arranging the visit.
Agreed: Following discussion on the issues raised during the visit Members agreed that the Interim Assembly Commissioner should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Committee to discuss these issues.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Committee on Standards and Privileges and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards at Westminster thanking them on behalf of the Committee.
8. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence from the Committee on Standards of Conduct, National Assembly of Wales forwarding a copy of their Consultation Document on the statutory role of a Commissioner for Standards.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should respond stating that the Committee had no comments to make on the Consultation Document and as the Committee will shortly be embarking on the appointment of an Assembly Commissioner they would welcome an opportunity to visit the Committee.
9. Any other business
There was no other business.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 10th December 2008 at 2.00pm in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.35pm.