PROBITY A MUST FOR PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES

Public representatives must ensure that the conduct of their business affairs should leave no doubt about the probity of their actions. That’s the message from the Committee on Standards and Privileges in its ruling that a complaint against Ian Paisley Junior cannot be substantiated.

The complaint, made by Mr John Dallat MLA, alleged Mr Paisley Junior had failed to register the benefit of a house which he did not own on the Assembly’s Register of Members’ Interests. The issue was then considered in a report from the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

After reflecting on the evidence presented in the report, the Committee agreed that there was a series of failures in the administration associated with the purchase of the property. This resulted in a delay of three years between completion and lodgement of documents for registration. Therefore, while Mr Paisley Junior had assumed the responsibility of repaying the loan to the bank for this property he did not actually have legal title to it.

However, the Committee agreed that these errors in themselves did not result in a benefit to Mr Paisley Junior.

Mrs Carmel Hanna, the Chairperson of the Committee, said, “On the basis of the evidence considered by the Interim Commissioner and reviewed by the Committee, we have reached the conclusion that the complaint cannot be substantiated.

“However, this case does highlight that public representatives must ensure that when conducting their business they leave no room for doubt as to the probity of their conduct.”

ENDS

Notes for Editor:

The Committee on Standards and Privileges is a Standing Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Committee’s areas of responsibility include the consideration of matters relating to the conduct of members; the examination of arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members’ Interests; and the consideration of matters relating to privilege

The membership of the Committee on Standards and Privileges are as follows:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clark (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Paul Maskey
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
Mr Brian Wilson

All enquiries regarding the work of the Committee should be directed to the Clerk of Standards, Dr Kevin Pelan, Room 284, Parliament Buildings, Belfast, BT4 3XX (028 905 20333).

Media enquiries should be addressed to:

Debra Savage,
Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office,
Room B2, Parliament Buildings,
Belfast BT4 3XX.
Telephone: 028 90521405
Mobile : 07920 864221