Committee on Standards Publishes Report on a Complaint against Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

The Committee on Standards has today published its report on complaints against Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA that she had breached the Assembly Members’ Code of Conduct (the Code).

The complaint was investigated by the Assembly Commissioner for Standards, Mr Stephen Wright, who concluded that Ms Ní Chuilín had breached Rule 5 of the Code when she failed to declare a relevant interest at a meeting of the Committee for the Executive Office on 26 November 2025. In addition, the Commissioner considered that Ms Ní Chuilín had failed to uphold the Principles of Openness and Leadership. In adjudicating on the case, the Committee on Standards concurred with these findings and upheld the applicable allegations.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Cathy Mason MLA said: “The Committee takes allegations of breaches of the Assembly’s Code of Conduct very seriously. Therefore, it was right that an independent investigation was carried out in order to establish the facts in relation to the allegations made.

“While the Member was found to have breached the Code, the Committee noted that there were mitigating circumstances in this case. The Member has stated that she is committed to maintaining the high standards required of Members, will ensure that such a breach does not occur again and has apologised to the Committee. I am therefore pleased that, following receipt of a written apology from the Member, the Committee has reported to the Assembly that the matter has now been resolved. Arising from the case, the Committee will also be recommending that further guidance is included in the Code regarding the requirements on all MLAs to declare relevant interests”.

The full report can be read here: https://lk.cmte.fyi/StandardsReport14Oct2026

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact the NI Assembly Communications Office: communications@niassembly.gov.uk

Notes to Editor:

• Find out more about the work of the Committee on Standards, including Membership.
• Read the Code of Conduct for Assembly Members.
• Because Ms Ní Chuilín apologised to the Committee, the matter has been resolved, and no sanction has been recommended. Therefore, the Committee will not be bringing the report to the Assembly for debate.
• Find out more about the Commissioner's role.