Minutes of Proceedings

The Committee met at 10.03am in private session.

1. Chairman's Introduction

The Chairman welcomed members to the twenty-sixth meeting of the Committee.

2. Apologies

Apology received from Sir J Gorman.

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. Committee Membership

The Chairman extended a formal welcome to Mr Derek Hussey as a Member and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee and also thanked him for assuming the role of Chairman at a previous informal meeting of the Committee.

5. Minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 5 March 2002

The Committee adopted the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 5th March 2002. (Proposed: Dr I Adamson: Seconded: Mr A Doherty)

6. Matters arising from the minutes

Update on complaints received about Assembly Members

A Report from the Northern Ireland Assembly Ombudsman, Mr Tom Frawley, concerning a complaint had been circulated.

Mr McClelland, Mr Doherty, Dr O'Hagan and Mr Wells declared an interest in relation to the complaint.

10.07 a.m. Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie joined the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie to the meeting.

In presenting his report to the Committee, Mr Frawley summarised the background to the complaint, outlined his method of investigation and concluded with his recommendation to the Committee. Members sought clarification from Mr Frawley on several issues relating to his Report.

Mr D Hussey left the meeting at 10.26 a.m.

The Chairman thanked Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie and they left the meeting at 10.27 a.m.

Following further discussion, Members agreed to defer a decision on the Ombudsman's Report until the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee noted two letters of 11 March from the Assembly Ombudsman to the Principal Clerk containing information that two Assembly Members wished to withdraw their complaints.

Members agreed to permit withdrawal of these complaints and instructed the Clerk to write to the Assembly Ombudsman thanking him for his initial investigations into the complaints and informing him of the Committee's agreement to permit withdrawal of the complaints. The Committee instructed the Clerk to advise the Members accordingly.

The Clerk was also instructed to write to Party Whips advising them of new procedures adopted by the Committee whereby complaints against Assembly Members could only be withdrawn with the specific agreement or approval of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

The Clerk also undertook to ensure that the procedural guidance in "The Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members" would be amended in due course.

Declaration of Members' Interests

The Committee noted a minute to Party Whips highlighting concerns that some Assembly Members had still not registered membership of local councils as a Category 2 entry in the Register of Members' Interests and asking them to remind Party members of their obligations in this regard.

Sir Nigel Wicks, Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, visit to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12th March 2002.

Members noted a letter to Sir Nigel Wicks thanking him for his help and co operation during his visit to meet Committee Members on 12 March.

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

The Committee noted a Press Release issued on 12 March, announcing the Committee's intention to conduct a review of "The Code of Conduct" and "The Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members".

The Chairman invited the Clerk to talk the Committee through a paper on the introduction to the review and to inform Committee discussion as each part of the Code is reviewed.

The Clerk explained that research had taken place to assist the review and drew attention to:

• Summaries of Main Approaches to the Registration of Interests and Standards of Conduct in Westminster, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and the Dail Eireann
• Codes of Conduct in Westminster, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and the Dail Eireann
• Research Papers regarding Codes of Conduct for Parliamentarians and information on the Alabama and Georgia State Ethics Commissions

The Committee conducted a review of the Code of Conduct and instructed the Clerk to prepare a revised paper taking into account the members' agreed proposals for further consideration.

Mr D Hussey joined the meeting at 11.19 a.m.
Dr D O'Hagan left the meeting at 11.28 a.m.

8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 9 April 2002 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting concluded at 11.31 a.m.

Mr Donovan McClelland MLA
Chairman