Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 03 June 2019

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission

Meeting Venue: Room 106, Parliament Buildings

Meeting date: Monday 3 June 2019

Meeting Time: 12.00pm

Commission Members:
The Speaker
Mr Jim Wells MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Mr Robin Swann MLA
Mr Stewart Dickson MLA

Officials present:
Mrs Lesley Hogg, Ms Tara Caul, Dr Gareth McGrath, Mr Richard Stewart, Mr Robin Ramsey, Ms Frances Leneghan and Mrs Janet Hughes

Others in attendance:
Mr Jonathan McMillen, Head of Legal Services

The meeting commenced at 12.00pm.

1. APOLOGIES

No apologies were received.

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

There were no declarations of interest.

3. CHAIRPERSON’S BUSINESS

Members noted that the Speaker had received notice from Alex Attwood of his resignation as a member of the Assembly Commission. Members also noted that in his resignation letter Mr Attwood requested that the Assembly Commission agree to permit the attendance of an SDLP MLA at Assembly Commission meetings until such time as a successor can be appointed.

The Assembly Commission recorded their thanks to Mr Attwood for his service on the Commission.

Robin Ramsey, Adviser to the Speaker/Head of Corporate Support outlined the advice he had prepared regarding the vacancy and the request for an SDLP MLA to attend Assembly Commission meetings until a successor can be appointed.

Given the limited time Members had to review the paper, Members agreed to return to the issue in advance of the Assembly Commission meeting scheduled for 24 June 2019.

Jonathan McMillen joined the meeting at 12.05pm.

4. APPOINTMENT OF A NORTHERN IRELAND PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN

Members noted that Marie Anderson, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman had been nominated by the Secretary of State (SoS) as the next Police Ombudsman and that responsibility for identifying her replacement lay with the Assembly Commission.

Richard Stewart, Director of Corporate Services, presented a paper outlining the Assembly Commission’s responsibilities regarding the appointment of a replacement Ombudsman and the fact that appointment was by nomination of the Assembly.

Mr Stewart outlined a number of issues and options for consideration in relation to filling the post and the adverse impacts that were likely to arise from a failure to fill the post.

Following discussion Members agreed to consult with their parties and asked to return to this item at a further meeting to be arranged prior to the next Assembly Commission meeting scheduled for 24 June 2019.

Action: Further meeting to be arranged as soon as possible following Members’ consultation with their parties.