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20/06/2012
Stormont Could Be Sworn To Secrecy
A new duty to ensure assembly members respect confidentiality could be introduced at Stormont.
The idea comes in the wake of a draft report being leaked to the media in January 2011.
Tom Frawley, the assembly's interim commissioner for standards, was asked to find out who leaked the Public Accounts Committee's report on Northern Ireland Water to the BBC and UTV, but was unable to discover the culprit.
A recommendation for secrecy would involve MLAs' code of practice making it clear the public representatives could be punished for breaches of confidentiality.
This would bring the Northern Ireland Assembly in line with the Scottish Parliament.
The proposals will be discussed by a Stormont committee today (Wednesday).
Mr Frawley was critical of the BBC and UTV for carrying the draft report before it had been agreed by the Public Accounts Committee, rejecting the broadcasters' arguments that their coverage was in the public interest.
(NE)
The idea comes in the wake of a draft report being leaked to the media in January 2011.
Tom Frawley, the assembly's interim commissioner for standards, was asked to find out who leaked the Public Accounts Committee's report on Northern Ireland Water to the BBC and UTV, but was unable to discover the culprit.
A recommendation for secrecy would involve MLAs' code of practice making it clear the public representatives could be punished for breaches of confidentiality.
This would bring the Northern Ireland Assembly in line with the Scottish Parliament.
The proposals will be discussed by a Stormont committee today (Wednesday).
Mr Frawley was critical of the BBC and UTV for carrying the draft report before it had been agreed by the Public Accounts Committee, rejecting the broadcasters' arguments that their coverage was in the public interest.
(NE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
