COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY, 24TH MARCH, 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Declan O’Loan (Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clarke (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Trevor Clarke
Rev Dr Robert Coulter
Mr Billy Leonard
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
Mr Brian Wilson

In Attendance: Mr Paul Gill (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jonathan McMillen (Assistant Legal Adviser) (Items 5 and 7)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Michael Greer (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher McNickle (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Paul Maskey

The meeting commenced at 1.15pm in closed session.

Chairperson’s Introduction

The Chairperson welcomed Members to the meeting.

Agreed: Members agreed that the meeting would be held in closed session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed 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. The Chairperson declared an interest in Agenda item 7 and informed the Committee that he would leave the meeting at that point and that the Deputy Chairperson would take the chair.

Mr Leonard also declared an interest in Agenda item 7 in that he had recently become a member of the All Party Group that had made the complaint. Mr Leonard confirmed that he had not been an Assembly Member or a member of the group at the time the complaint was made and therefore had no prior knowledge of the complaint.

3. Draft minutes of the meetings held on 10th March 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on 10th March 2010 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Matters arising

There were no matters arising.

5. Inquiry on enforcing the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members and the appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards

Members noted the Clerk’s Memo and a further paper including legal advice.

1.25pm Mr Wilson joined the meeting.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr Jonathan McMillen, Assistant Legal Adviser and invited him to brief the Committee on the Legal Advice received.

Agreed: Following discussion it was agreed that the issues raised would be considered further at the next meeting of the Committee.

The Chairperson thanked Mr McMillen.

Members noted correspondence received from the Director General on behalf of the Assembly Commission.

6. Correspondence

Members noted correspondence from the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards on investigations and reports during an election period.

Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed that the Commissioner should continue any investigations and but that it would consider the second issue further to having seen the Assembly’s Guidelines on Purdah.

7. Interim Assembly Commissioner’s Report on a Complaint against a Member

2.20pm The Chairperson having declared an interest in this item withdrew from the meeting and the Deputy Chairperson took the chair.

The Committee considered legal advice on the issue raised in the correspondence previously tabled by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the full report of the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards including appendices.

Agreed: the Committee agreed the draft Report as amended.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should respond to the correspondence previously tabled by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

The Committee noted further correspondence received from the Interim Commissioner for Standards.

8. Any other business

There was no other business.

9. Time, date and place of next meeting

The next meeting will take place at 1.15pm on Wednesday, 14th April 2010 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.54pm.

Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges

21st April 2010.