Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 22 May 2013
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 1.30pm in open session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should be held in closed session as the Committee was considering reports from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards on complaints against two Members.
The Committee moved into closed session
The Chairperson welcomed Committee members to the meeting. The Chairperson welcomed Mr Declan McAleer who has replaced Mr Francie Molloy and Mr Sydney Anderson who has replaced Mr David McAleer to their first meeting of the Committee.
1. Apologies
As 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.
The Committee noted the tabled interests of Mr McAleer and Mr Anderson.
Mr Agnew declared an interest in agenda item 10 as Secretary to the proposed All-Party Group on Cycling.
Mrs Overend declared an interest in agenda item 10 as members of the proposed All-Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease and the All-Party Group on Cycling.
Mr McCarthy declared an interest as a member of the All-Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease.
1.31pm Mr Eastwood joined the meeting.
1.32pm Mr McCann joined the meeting.
The Chairperson and Mr McCann declared an interest in agenda item 5 as members of the Committee on Employment and Learning. Each stated that they would not participate in the Committee’s consideration of the report on the complaint.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 13th March 2013.
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on 13th March 2013 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Report from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards on a complaint against a Member
Members noted the Clerk’s Paper and the Report from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Douglas Bain, Assembly Commissioner for Standards and invited him to brief the Committee on his Report.
1.37pm Mr Declan McAleer joined the meeting
Following discussion the Chairperson thanked Mr Bain.
6. Report from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards on a complaint against a Member
Members noted the Clerk’s Paper and the Report from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Chairperson invited Mr Douglas Bain, Assembly Commissioner for Standards to brief the Committee on his Report.
Following discussion the Chairperson thanked Mr Bain.
7. Correspondence from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards re: Guidance as to the Scope of the Code of Conduct in relation to Criminal conduct
Members noted the correspondence from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
1.50pm Mr McCann left the meeting
The Chairperson invited Mr Douglas Bain, Assembly Commissioner for Standards to brief the Committee on his Report.
Following discussion the Chairperson thanked Mr Bain.
1.58pm Mr Eastwood left the meeting
8. Annual Report of the Assembly Commissioner for Standards
The Committee noted the Annual Report of the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
The Chairperson invited Mr Douglas Bain, Assembly Commissioner for Standards to brief the Committee on his Report.
The Committee noted that the Report has been forwarded to the Business Office to be laid before the Assembly.
Following discussion the Chairperson thanked Mr Bain for attending the meeting.
The Committee returned to the report on the complaint at agenda item 5.
Agreed: The Committee agreed with the Assembly Commissioner for Standards’ conclusion that the Member had not breached the Code of Conduct.
Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed that the Clerk should draft a Committee report, reflecting the Committee’s views, for consideration at the next meeting.
The Committee returned to the report on the complaint at agenda item 6.
Agreed: The Committee agreed with the Assembly Commissioner for Standards’ conclusion that the Member had not breached the Code of Conduct.
Agreed: Following discussion the Committee agreed that the Clerk should draft a Committee report, reflecting the Committee’s views, for consideration at the next meeting.
The Committee returned to the correspondence from the Commissioner at agenda item 7.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the clerk should circulate a previous Committee Report to members for reference and that it would give further consideration to this issue at the next meeting.
The Committee returned to the Annual Report from the Commissioner at agenda item 8.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report should be published on the Committee’s webpage.
9. Effective Questioning
Following discussion members noted the Paper from Legal Services on the Committee’s Effective Questioning Workshop.
10. All-Party Groups
The Committee noted an application for an All-Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the formation of an All-Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease.
The Committee noted an application for an All-Party Group on Cycling.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the formation of an All-Party Group on Cycling.
11. Any other business
There was no other business.
12. Time, date and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 5th June 2013 in Room 21 at 1.30pm.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.22pm.
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges
5th June 2013
