COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Declan O’Loan (Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Paul Maskey
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
Mr Brian Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr Paul Gill (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Tara Caul (Senior Legal Adviser) (Agenda Item 6)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Gerard Rosato (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher McNickle (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Rev Robert Coulter
The meeting commenced at 1.16pm in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should be held in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant financial or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 4 th November 2009
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft minutes of the meeting held on 4 th November 2009.
4. Matters arising
The Clerk clarified the position in relation to the requirement to register electoral support and political donations.
5. Register of Members’ Interests
The Committee noted the Clerk’s paper on the publication of the new Register of Members’ Interests.
Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed to order the Register of Members’ Interests to be published. The Committee also agreed the draft press release and the proposed media handling plan as detailed in the Clerk’s paper.
6. Code of Conduct
The Committee noted an Advice paper received from Assembly Legal Services.
The Chairperson welcomed Ms Tara Caul, Senior Legal Adviser, Assembly Legal Services to the meeting and invited her to outline the key issues set out in the Advice paper.
Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Interim Commissioner informing him of the Committee’s direction on the issue.
The Chairperson thanked Ms Caul for attending the meeting.
7. Any other business
There was no other business.
8. Time, date and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place at 1.15pm on Wednesday 9 th December 2009 in room 144, Parliament Buildings. Lunch will be available from 1.00pm.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.56pm.