MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2002

Present: Mr D McClelland (Chairman)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Hussey
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McNamee
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells

Apologies: Sir J Gorman
Mr P Berry

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

The Committee met at 2.09 pm in private session.

1. Chairman's Introduction

The Chairman welcomed members to the twenty-seventh meeting of the Committee. Members noted that a letter of condolence had been sent to Mr O'Connor following the death of his father.

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from Sir J Gorman and Mr P Berry.

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 19 March 2002

The Committee adopted the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 19th March 2002. (Proposed: Mr K McCarthy: Seconded: Mr A Doherty).

5. Matters arising from the minutes

Report on a complaint received from the Assembly Ombudsman

A decision on the Ombudsman's Report had been deferred from the last meeting of the Committee.

Mr McClelland, Mr Doherty and Mr Wells declared an interest in relation to the complaint.

Dr D O'Hagan joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
Mr D Hussey joined the meeting at 2.19 p.m.

Following discussion, the Committee agreed to accept the Ombudsman's recommendation and instructed the Clerk to write to Mr Frawley accordingly.

The Chairman's Draft Report, proposed by the Chairman, having been circulated, was taken as read.

Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Front cover of Report read and agreed.

Committee Powers and Membership
Paragraph 1 to 6 read and agreed to.

Committee Report
Paragraph 1 to 5 read and agreed to.

Resolved. That the Report be the First report of the Committee to the Assembly.

The Committee ordered the Report to be printed.

Members also adopted an extract of the minutes of 9 April referring to the Report. (Proposed: Mr K McCarthy: Seconded: Mr A Doherty).

Withdrawal of complaints

The Committee noted correspondence relating to the withdrawal of two complaints.

6. Committee Inquiry/Review of "The Code of Conduct" and "The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members"

The Committee considered the first draft of the Background to the Committee's Report and its review of "The Code of Conduct".

Paragraph 1 - 15 agreed subject to amendment

Paragraph 18 - 21 agreed subject to amendment

In relation to paragraphs 16 and 17, a proposal to add an additional principle to the seven principles of conduct in public life introduced by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1995, was discussed at length.

The Committee directed the Principal Clerk and the Clerk to re examine the wording of the proposed addition.

The Chairman invited the Clerk to present a paper on the introductory section of "The Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members".

The Committee considered general issues and proposals also contained in the paper and directed the Clerk to re-draft the proposals for further consideration.

Members instructed the Principal Clerk and the Clerk to carry out research into the registration of sponsorships. The Clerks were also instructed to examine the issue of a Member voting on a topic on which he/she has or has not declared an interest.

7. Any Other Business

Members noted a letter of thanks received from Sir Nigel Wicks regarding his meeting with Committee members on 12 March 2002. The Chairman also conveyed his thanks to Mr Hussey for chairing the meeting on 12 March.

8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 16 April 2002 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting concluded at 3.19 p.m.

Mr Donovan McClelland MLA
Chairman

19 March 2002 / Menu / 16 April 2002