MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2000

Present:
Mr D McClelland (Chairman)
Mr R Beggs Jnr (Deputy Chairman)
Dr I Adamson
Mr A Doherty
Sir J Gorman
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McNamee
Mr D O'Connor
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr E Poots

Apologies:Mr J Wells

In Attendance:Mr J TorneyMrs S Murphy
Mrs C DarrahMrs D Williams

1. Chairman's Introduction

(i)The Chairman welcomed the Deputy Chairman and members of the Committee to the first meeting and outlined the documents that had been circulated for information. He introduced the Clerk to the Committee, Mr John Torney. Mr Torney introduced the other staff who would service the needs of the Committee and outlined the main responsibilities and activities of the Committee.

(ii)The Chairman stressed the importance of confidentiality when members were dealing with matters referred to the Committee. He emphasised that it was vital that the Committee was seen to be acting impartially and independently and members must not allow party affiliation or loyalty to influence the decisions that needed to be made. He also outlined the importance of the Committee functioning as a "unit" and reaching decisions unanimously, if at all possible.

2. Declaration of Interests

The Chairman advised members that they must declare any pecuniary interests. If members had nothing to declare other than their existing entry in the Register of Members' Interests they should inform the Committee Clerk accordingly. Any member who had not yet completed a Members' Interests Registration Form should do so immediately. The Chairman also informed members that when they had a pecuniary interest, which was relevant to a particular enquiry, or when he/she considered that a personal interest might reflect upon the work of the Committee the member should declare the interest and consider standing aside from the Committee proceedings relating to it. The Clerk was available to provide advice if required.

3. Register of Members' Interests

The Chairman informed members that the Committee was responsible for overseeing the arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests. The existing Register was published on 1 June 1999 and the Committee Clerk was responsible for updating it on an on-going basis as and when advised by members of changes to their entries. The Chairman advised members that the Register was available for Members' inspection in the Members' Library and for public inspection in Room 243. The Register could also be accessed on the Assembly website.

4. Code of Conduct

The Chairman advised members that copies of "The Code of Conduct together with The Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members" had been circulated and should be read carefully. The Assembly had approved the Code on 14 December 1999 and the Chairman outlined the main sections in it.

5. The Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life

The Chairman informed members that the Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, copies of which had been circulated, had been referred to the Committee by the Speaker for consideration:

Agreed:The Clerk will provide a summary of the Report, which will be circulated to members in due course for discussion at a future Committee meeting.

6. Matters referred to the Committee by the Speaker

The Clerk was instructed to take action, agreed by the Committee, on two matters that had been referred to the Committee by the Speaker.

7. Dates and Times for Future Committee Meetings

Following a discussion it was agreed that the Committee would meet on Tuesday mornings at 10.30am in Room 135.

8. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet on Tuesday 22 February 2000 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings. The meeting will be closed.

9.Any Other Business

(i)The Chairman informed members that five other issues had been referred to the Committee for consideration. Information on each had been circulated at the start of the meeting. Following a detailed discussion, appropriate action to be taken on each was agreed by the Committee.

(ii)A draft press release was agreed and will be issued.

MR DONOVAN McCLELLAND
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN