Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 20 June 2012
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 1.30pm in closed session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should be held in closed session as the Committee would be considering a report from the interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Chairperson welcomed Committee Members to the meeting.
1. Apologies
As detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant financial or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6th June 2012
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on 6th June 2012 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Consideration of Report from the interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards on the Unauthorised Disclosure of a draft Report of the Public Accounts Committee
Members noted the report received from the interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards on the Unauthorised Disclosure of a Draft Report of the Public Accounts Committee.
Members discussed the media reporting of aspects of the interim Commissioner’s reports.
1.32pm Mr Colum Eastwood joined the meeting
1.35pm Sandra Overend joined the meeting
1.43pm Fra McCann joined the meeting
1.43pm The Chairperson welcomed Dr Tom Frawley and Ms Gillian Coey, Investigation Officer, Ombudsman’s Office and invited Dr Frawley to brief the Committee on his report.
Following discussion the Committee thanked Dr Frawley and Ms Coey for attending the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it should publish a short Committee Report immediately to be followed by a full report in due course after it had taken into account the views of the relevant bodies and individuals referred to in the interim Commissioner’s Report.
Agreed: Members discussed and agreed the draft Committee Report and ordered that the report be printed today and will be published by tomorrow morning.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Public Accounts Committee to inform it of the imminent publication of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to each of the relevant bodies affected by the Interim Commissioner’s recommendations asking them for their comments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that those members of staff whose specific actions were referred to in the report could be briefed on the relevant sections of the Report in advance of its publication.
Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed that the Clerk should provide it with further advice on the potential for the interim Commissioner to undertake further investigatory work.
6. All-Party Group on Football
Agreed: The Committee noted the Registration Form for the formation of an All-Party Group on Football and approved its formation.
7. Any other business
The Committee agreed that for its next meeting the reports from the interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards should not be circulated to Members in advance. The reports should be made available for Members to read in the committee room one hour in advance of the meeting beginning.
The Committee noted that this was Mr Doherty’s last meeting of the Committee on Standards and Privileges. The Chairperson thanked Mr Doherty for his contribution to the Committee and wished him well for the future.
8. Time, date and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday 4th July 2012 at 1.30pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Committee noted that it would also have to meet on the morning of Thursday 5 July.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.30pm.
