COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 17th JUNE 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Willie Clarke (Deputy Chairperson in the Chair)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Brian Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr Paul Gill (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Gerard Rosato (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher McNickle (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Jonathan Craig
The meeting commenced at 2.04pm in closed session.
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 10 th June 2009
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 th June 2009 were approved by the Committee.
Proposed: Mr Alastair Ross
Seconded: Mr Allan Bresland
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Committee’s Report on the Review of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members
Members considered the draft Northern Ireland Assembly Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members –
Content page
Page 15, read and agreed.
Introduction
Page 16 - read and agreed.
Code of Conduct
Pages 17 to 20 – read and agreed.
Introduction on the Guide to the Rules
Pages 21 to 23 – read and agreed.
Categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Register
Pages 23 to 26 – read and agreed.
Category 4 of the Register
Pages 26 to 27 – read and agreed.
Categories 5, 6 and 7 of the Register
Pages 27 – 28 – read and agreed.
Categories 8 and 9 of the Register
Pages 29 – 30 - read and agreed.
Categories 10 and 11 of the Register
Page 30– read and agreed.
Category 12 of the Register
Page 31 – read and agreed as amended.
Declaration of Interests
Pages 31 to 34 – read and agreed.
The Advocacy Rule
Pages 34 to 37 – read and agreed.
The Complaints Procedure
Pages 38 – 41 – read and agreed.
Resolution of the Assembly Relating to the Conduct of Members
Annex 1 – read and agreed.
Members considered the draft Committee Report paragraph by paragraph.
Introduction
Paragraphs 1 – 5 were read and agreed.
Key issues and recommendations
Scope of the Code of Conduct
Paragraphs 6 – 15 were read and agreed.
Principles of Conduct
Paragraphs 16 – 20 were read and agreed.
Duty of Members in respect of the Assembly Commissioner for Standards and the Committee on Standards and Privileges
Paragraphs 21 and 22 were read and agreed.
Outside Remuneration
Paragraphs 23 and 24 were read and agreed.
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
Paragraphs 25 – 30 were read and agreed.
Occupational Pensions Schemes
Paragraphs 31 – 32 were read and agreed.
Registration of Family Members who benefit from Assembly Members’ Allowances
Paragraphs 33 – 42 were read and agreed.
Declaring the interests of family members
Paragraphs 43 – 44 were read and agreed.
The Advocacy Rule
Paragraphs 45 – 49 were read and agreed.
Complaints Procedure
Paragraphs 50 – 52 were read and agreed.
Sanctions
Paragraphs 53 – 57 were read and agreed.
Rectification Procedure
Paragraphs 58 – 60 were read and agreed.
Other minor amendments
Paragraphs 61 – 62
Looking forward
Paragraphs 63 – 66 were read and agreed.
Paragraph 67 was read and agreed as amended.
Paragraphs 68 – 69 were read and agreed.
The Committee agreed the Committee Powers and Membership should form part of the Report.
The Committee agreed the Executive Summary should form part of the Report.
The Committee agreed the Summary of Recommendations should form part of the Report.
The Committee agreed that Appendices 1 – 4 should form of the Report.
The Committee agreed that an extract of today’s Minutes of Proceedings should be included in Appendix 1 of the report.
The Committee agreed that an embargoed copy of the report be sent to each of the witnesses who gave oral evidence: The Equality Commission, The Electoral Commission and the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Committee ordered the Report on the Review of the Northern Ireland Assembly Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members to be printed.
Members noted that the Report would be embargoed until the commencement of the Committee debate in Plenary on Tuesday, 23 June 2009.
Members agreed that the Chairperson and the Clerk should meet with the Speaker on Monday 22 nd June 2009 to brief him on the Code in advance of the debate in Plenary on Tuesday, 23 rd June 2009.
Members agreed the draft Press Release to be released following the debate of the Committee’s Report in Plenary on Tuesday, 23 June 2009.
Members agreed that the media could be provided with embargoed copies of the report and that the Chair, Deputy Chair and Clerk should have an informal press-briefing with journalists next week in advance of the Committee debate on the understanding that journalists will not report on the contents of the Report until after the Plenary debate.
6. Any other business
There was no other business.
7. Time, date and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.