Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2008/2009
Date: 25 June 2009
Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 11.35am in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the meeting.
1. Apologies
Apologies as 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 17th June 2009
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 17th June 2009 were approved by the Committee.
Proposed: Mr Francie Brolly
Seconded: Mr Alastair Ross
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Report from the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards on a complaint against a Member
Members noted the contents of a Report received from the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards on a complaint against a Member.
The Chairperson welcomed Dr Tom Frawley, Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards and Mr John MacQuarrie, Director for Standards and Special Projects, Ombudsman’s Office and invited them to make a presentation to the Committee. After the presentation Dr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie answered a number of questions from the Committee.
Dr Frawley and Mr MacQuarrie left the meeting.
Mr Savage declared an interest as he is a farmer.
Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed that the conduct complained of did not represent a breach of the Code and that a draft Committee Report on the complaint should be prepared by the Clerk for consideration by the Committee at the next meeting.
6. Report from the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards to Inquiry into the review of MPs’ expenses
Members noted a Report submitted by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards to the Committee on Standards in Public Life on the Inquiry into the Review of MPs’ Expenses.
7. Any other business
Agreed: Members agreed that authority be delegated from the Committee to the Chair and Deputy Chair to provide views on the releasing or withholding of information in any non-routine/contentious FoI requests during Summer recess.
Members noted that the Member who was the subject of a former Report of the Committee which found that the Member had breached the Code had not to date registered the relevant interest as directed by the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Member stating that the interest must be registered before the next meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: Follow discussion the Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards advising him that the position as set out in the new Code of Conduct reflects the Committee’s view as to how pending complaints on the conduct of Members as Ministers should be dealt with.
Members noted that information sessions would be held with Members prior to the new Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members being implemented on 12 October 2009.
8. Time, date and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 1st July 2009 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.24pm.
