Present:
Mr D McClelland (Chairman)
Mr I Adamson
Mr R Beggs Jnr
Mr A Doherty
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McNamee

In Attendance: Mr A Rogers
Mr T Logue
Mrs J McMurray
Mrs D Williams

The Committee met at 2.35 p.m. in closed session.

1. Chairman's Introduction

The Chairman welcomed the members to the fourteenth meeting of the Standards and Privileges Committee;

The Committee requested the Clerk to contact the Chief Whip of the DUP and express the Committee's concern over the absence of DUP members from the last two meetings of the Committee.

2. Declaration of Interests

The Chairman reminded members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each committee meeting.

3. Minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 29 May 2001.

The Committee adopted the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 29 May 2001. (Proposed: Mr K McCarthy, Seconded Mr R Beggs)

4. Appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards - Presentation by Northern Ireland Ombudsman

Following the presentation by Mr Tom Frawley, NI Assembly Ombudsman, at the previous meeting the Committee agreed:

- to accept the proposal that the NI Assembly Ombudsman undertakes the role of Assembly Commissioner for Standards for an interim period;

- the interim period would end when the Assembly Commissioner for Standards was appointed following an open recruitment competition;

- that the Clerk should prepare draft papers to be used for the appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards and to approach the Clerk of the Assembly Commission to discuss arrangements for progressing the appointment process.

- the Committee agreed that amendments to Standing Order 57 would be necessary to provide a vehicle to allow the Assembly Commissioner for Standards to function;

- the Committee requested clarification from the Committee on Procedures and Assembly Legal Advisers on the voting arrangements contained in the proposed amendment to Standing Order 57;

- the Committee considered the proposed amendments to Standing Order 64 and Members were asked to report any concerns to the Clerk;

- the Committee requested the Clerk to highlight their concerns, with the 'Immediate relative' categories in Standing Order 64(8), to the Clerk to the Committee on Procedures;

- the Clerk advised the Committee that the proposals to Standing Orders would be put down for Assembly debate in the next week or so.

6. Any other business

A detailed discussion took place on a complaint which arose as result of an incident on 1 February 2000. The Committee agreed that the Member involved should be required to tender an apology to the Committee and provide clarification of the current situation in relation to the incident. The Clerk was directed accordingly.

7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 3 July 2001 at 1.00pm in Room 135.

The meeting concluded at 3.12 p.m.

Mr Donovan McClelland

Chairman