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

Apologies:Mr P Berry
Mr P McNamee

In Attendance:Mr J Torney
Mrs M Miskelly
Mrs J McMurray

The Committee met at 10.08am in private session.

1. Chairman's Introduction

The Chairman welcomed Members to the eighteenth meeting 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 25 September 2001.

The Committee adopted the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 25^th September 2001. (Proposed: Sir J Gorman, Seconded: Dr I Adamson)

4. Publication of Updated Register of Members' Interests.

Members were advised that the Clerk had started to collate the responses received from Assembly Members and is preparing the third edition of the Register.

The Committee ordered the new edition of the Register to be printed.

5. Follow up to Appointment of Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

The Clerk advised members that he had sought legal advice and had spoken with the Speaker, in his capacity as Chairman of the Assembly Commission about the post of Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

The Committee resolved that interim arrangements to have complaints against Members investigated independently should be put in place in due course.

The Committee instructed the Clerk to seek further advice from the Equality Commission to assist Members make a fully informed decision on the way forward with the post of Commissioner for Standards.

Members agreed to consult their Party Groups on the post of Commissioner for Standards.

6. Amendment to the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members.

The Committee noted that motions to amend 'The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members' had been debated in the Assembly and that all of the motions had been carried on 15 October 2001. The Committee ordered the amended Guide to be printed.

7. Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector in Northern Ireland.

The Committee considered a paper prepared by the Clerk on the Department of Finance and Personnel's consultation document entitled 'Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector in Northern Ireland'.

The Committee agreed that this is not a matter that falls within the Committee's remit. However, Members agreed that a general comment should be sent to the Department of Finance and Personnel advising that a Register of Interests should be established and published for all Public Bodies and that Members of such bodies should be required to register their interests in order to protect the public interest.

8. Minutes of Committee Meetings of 29 May 2001 and 12 June 2001

Members resolved that paragraphs of these minutes should be redrafted and tabled for consideration by the Committee at its next meeting.

9. Any Other Business

Mr Wells advised the Committee that he intended lodging a complaint at the next meeting of the Committee. Members were advised that complaints should be addressed in writing to the Clerk of Standards.

The Committee agreed to consider a paper on the 'Role and Purpose of the Chairpersons' Liaison Group' at its next meeting.

10. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 6 November at 10.00am. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting concluded at 11.16am.