Present:
Mr D McClelland (Chairman)
Dr I Adamson
Mr P Berry
Sir J Gorman
Mr P McNamee
Mr J Wells

Apologies:
Mr A Doherty
Mr K McCarthy
Dr D O'Hagan

In Attendance:
Mrs M Miskelly
Ms E Gillen
Mr J Wright

The Committee met at 10.00am in private session.

1. Chairman's Introduction

The Chairman welcomed Members to the twenty-first meeting of the Committee.

2. Apologies

Apologies received from Mr A Doherty, Mr K McCarthy and Dr D O'Hagan.

3. Declaration of Interests

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

4. Minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 20 November 2001.

The Committee adopted the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 20^th November 2001. (Proposed: Dr I Adamson, Seconded: Sir J Gorman)

5. Matters arising from the minutes

Publication of Updated Register of Members' Interests.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the new edition of the Register of Members' Interests will be printed within the next two weeks and each Assembly Member will receive a copy of the Register.

Appointment of Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

The Committee noted a letter of 30 November 2001 from Mr Tom Frawley, Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland advising the Chairman of the Assembly Commission that he was happy to enter into an interim arrangement with the Committee whereby he would investigate complaints against Assembly members on a case by case basis, and report his findings to the Committee.

The Chairman advised the Committee that all future complaints received by the Clerk of Standards will be sent directly to the Assembly Ombudsman for investigation. When the Assembly Ombudsman has completed his investigation he will report his findings to the Committee through the Clerk of Standards.

Members noted that the Clerk is to write to all Assembly Members advising of these new interim arrangements.

Mr J Wells joined the meeting at 10.10am.

6. Complaints received by the Clerk

Members agreed to refer, in due course two outstanding complaints and a further complaint received by the Clerk dated 19 November 2001 to the Assembly Ombudsman for initial and, if appropriate, detailed investigation.

7. Committee of the Centre - European Inquiry

The Committee noted the 'European Inquiry' being undertaken by the Committee of the Centre and agreed that it had no comment to make on the Committee's inquiry..

8. Any Other Business

The Chairman advised Members that the Clerk intends writing to Party Whips offering to provide advice and guidance to individual Members or groups of Members on the 'Declaration of Interest in Committees' and to remind Members that they are free to approach The Principal Clerk of Standards or the Clerk of Standards for advice and guidance.

9. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee provisionally agreed to meet on Tuesday 15 January 2002 at 10.00am. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting concluded at 10.19am.

Mr Donovan McClelland MLA
Chairman.