Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2007/2008
Date: 09 January 2007
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
The meeting opened at 1:05pm in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the sixteenth meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed to hold the meeting in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests.
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 th December 2007.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 12 th December 2007.
4. Matters Arising.
There were no matters arising.
5. Presentation by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Chairperson advised Members that the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards would make a presentation to the Committee on his determinations on complaints against two Assembly Members.
Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie joined the meeting at 1:09pm.
The Chairperson declared an interest in both complaints.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 1:16pm.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 1:25pm.
The Interim Commissioner presented his findings in relation to the first and second complaint. Following the presentation Members discussed with the Interim Commissioner a number of issues relating to both complaints.
Mr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie left the meeting at 1.44pm.
The Chairperson invited Members to make further comment on the conclusions of the Interim Commissioner.
Agreed: Members agreed to adopt the conclusions of the Interim Commissioner’s reports in respect of both the first and second complaint. The Committee instructed the Clerk to write to the complainants and the Members complained of, informing them of the outcome of the Committee’s deliberations.
6. Review of the ‘Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members’: Declaration of Members’ Interests’.
Members considered a paper on the ‘Declaration of Members’ Interests’ section of the Guide.
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 2:00pm
Agreed: Members agreed to adopt the suggested amendments and that these be included in the consultation document.
7. AOB.
The Chairperson informed Members that the Committee had received a new complaint, and that in accordance with procedures the complaint had been forwarded to the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards and the relevant parties to the complaint contacted.
The Chairperson informed Members that the Committee had received an anonymous letter of complaint. A copy of the letter was circulated to Members. The Chairperson advised Members that the subject of the complaint was not a member of the Assembly and the matter was not therefore within the remit of the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed that no further action should be taken.
The Chairperson advised Members that two new All Party Groups, the All Party Group on Minority Ethnic Issues and the All Party Group on Disability, were due to hold their inaugural meetings within the next two weeks.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 16th January at 2:00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2:11 pm.
