Committee on Standards publishes report on complaints against Minister Paul Givan MLA

The Assembly’s Committee on Standards has today published its report on complaints against the Education Minister Paul Givan MLA, regarding allegations that he breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct. The complaints were made in relation to Mr Givan’s participation in a delegation which visited Israel on 23-31 October 2025.

The complaints were investigated by the independent Assembly Commissioner for Standards, Mr Stephen Wright. On considering the Commissioner’s first investigation report, the Committee considered that some issues had not been addressed and wished to assure itself that a full and thorough investigation had been completed before publishing the outcome of the complaints case. At the request of the Committee, the Commissioner undertook further investigation of the complaints, following which he reaffirmed that Mr Givan had not breached any aspects of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

The Committee’s report includes the Commissioner’s two investigation reports and supporting documents as appendices.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee on Standards, the Deputy Chairperson, Connie Egan MLA said: “While the Committee has no adjudication role in relation to ministerial complaints, it has a duty, under Standing Order 69A, to consider any investigation report by the Commissioner, including reports on ministerial complaints, and to publish such reports on behalf of the Assembly. The Committee has therefore fulfilled its role in that regard.”

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

ENDS

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

Notes to Editor:

• Further information on the work of the Committee on Standards including Membership, can be accessed here.
• The Ministerial Code of Conduct sets out the ethical standards required of Ministers when acting in their capacity as a Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. It can be found here.
• The current Commissioner for Standards is Stephen Wright. Find out more about his role here.
• In contrast to complaints against MLAs of alleged breaches of the Assembly Code of Conduct, the Committee on Standards does not have an adjudication role in relation to complaints against Ministers on alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct (consequently that role rests with the Commissioner). However, the Committee has a duty, under Standing Order 69A, to consider any investigation report by the Commissioner, including reports on ministerial complaints, and to publish such reports (on behalf of the Assembly).
• In ministerial complaint cases where a Commissioner’s investigation report has concluded that the Code has been breached (unlike the instant case), the Committee cannot recommend the imposition of sanction/s on ministers to the Assembly. Rather, it is the role of the Assembly in plenary in deciding whether any sanction/s should be imposed, if the Assembly, in considering the findings of a Commissioner’s investigation report, believes there has been a breach of the Code.
• The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (sections 30, 47A(1) and 51D) makes provision for the Assembly to impose statutory sanctions on Ministers for breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, which include: exclusion of a Minister from office for 3 - 12 months; reduction in salary; or censure.