Debate contribution: Repeal of Standing Order 70 and Consequential Amendments

Debate contribution by Mrs Cathy Mason on 29 June 2026.

MLA: Mrs Cathy Mason
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 29 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Committee Business
Heading: Repeal of Standing Order 70 and Consequential Amendments
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5645245

Text

I thank the Member for his questions. It is good to have clarity on them. The change is not about reducing any protections, weakening democracy or limiting free speech; rather, the repeal is about modernising our procedures so that they reflect the current standards regime and the system of accountability, which includes the contemporary code of conduct, the investigation role of the independent Assembly Commissioner for Standards, the adjudication role of the Committee and the sanctioning role of the Assembly. There will be no change in the Committee's approach to the rules. That approach is still covered under the standards. I will resume. The repeal will reduce any ambiguity about what constitutes parliamentary privilege and what should properly be considered misconduct. It will therefore support a clearer, more consistent framework for dealing with conduct and standards issues. On behalf of the Committee, I therefore support the motion.

147 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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