AQW 18745/22-27
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford
Tabled Date: 25/11/2024
Answered On Date: 10/12/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail (i) the policy in relation to the use of the Members' Bar; and (ii) whether changes have been made to allow staff, MPs or visitors to access the area without being accompanied by an MLA.
Answer:
The Assembly Commission last reviewed the list of those eligible to access the Members’ Bar and Coffee Lounge on 7 May 2013. The list agreed by the Assembly Commission at that time (provided below) included that Northern Ireland based Members of either house within the palace of Westminster and Assembly staff (Assembly Grade 4 and above) could access the Members’ Bar and Coffee Lounge without being accompanied by an MLA. I provide the list agreed by the Assembly Commission on 7 May 2013 below, which has not been changed since that time. Members Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service and Permanent Secretaries Assembly Commission Staff (AG4 and above) Attorney General Solicitor to Attorney General Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards Party Nominated Users (Each Party may nominate one member of their permanent staff. Larger parties of 12 MLAs or more may nominate an additional member of their permanent staff) Special Advisers Northern Ireland based Members of either house within the palace of Westminster (and/or European Parliament – this is no longer relevant) Comptroller and Auditor General and Audit Manager/Public Accounts Committee Liaison Independent Financial Review Panel Members Chair and Members of Assembly Commission Audit and Risk Committee Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman and Deputy Departmental Solicitor First Legislative Counsel Accompanied guests of the above
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