The next item of business is consideration of motion S5M-12943, in the name of Clare Haughey, on the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee鈥檚 fifth report in 2018, 鈥淐omplaint against Mark McDonald MSP鈥. I call Patrick Harvie to speak to and move the motion on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
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The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee has considered and reported on a complaint from James Dornan MSP about Mark McDonald MSP. The complaint related to the conduct of Mark McDonald towards a member of James Dornan鈥檚 staff.
In examining information relating to the complaint, the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland was made aware of Mark McDonald鈥檚 conduct towards another staff member and decided that that was relevant to the complaint under consideration.
The commissioner investigated the complaint and concluded that Mark McDonald failed to treat one staff member with respect and that his conduct towards her involved sexual harassment; that he also failed to treat a second staff member with respect; and that both behaviours were in breach of the code of conduct for members of the Scottish Parliament.
The committee鈥檚 deliberations are set out in the committee鈥檚 report. Details of the investigation by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland can be found in the report鈥檚 annexes.
The committee unanimously endorsed the commissioner鈥檚 conclusions and we consider that the breaches justify the imposition of sanctions on Mark McDonald. The committee looked at the full range of sanctions available to the Parliament and agreed that any sanction should send a clear signal about the seriousness of Mark McDonald鈥檚 conduct but should not have a financial impact on his staff nor unduly impact on his ability to represent his constituents.
Before I move the motion on behalf of the committee, I want to comment on the confidentiality requirements in the complaints process, which are a requirement of the code of conduct for 成人快手.
We previously expressed our disappointment that details of the complaint were shared with the media by James Dornan MSP. To make matters worse, following the commissioner鈥檚 investigation and before the report had been distributed to the committee, it appears that the report鈥檚 findings were shared with the media.
We consider it unacceptable that the confidentiality requirements have been flouted more than once during the course of this complaint. That is disrespectful to the process, to the staff members involved and to the committee and the Parliament. Proper processes must be observed to ensure a robust outcome. The commissioner and the committee must be able to carry out their work without external interference. The committee intends to look into the breaches of confidentiality in due course.
In conclusion, the committee recommends that the Parliament: excludes Mark McDonald from proceedings of the Parliament for a period of one month, to take place from 3 September to 2 October 2018 inclusive; withdraws his salary for a period of one month to coincide with his exclusion from proceedings of the Parliament; withdraws his right of access as a member to the Holyrood parliamentary complex for the period of one month to coincide with his exclusion from the proceedings of the Parliament; and withdraws his rights to any representational, ceremonial and related privileges until dissolution.
On behalf of the committee, I move,
That the Parliament notes the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee鈥檚 5th Report, 2018 (Session 5), Complaint against Mark McDonald MSP (SP Paper 362), and agrees to impose the sanctions recommended in the report that the Parliament excludes Mark McDonald from proceedings of the Parliament for a period of one month, to take place from 3 September to 2 October 2018 inclusive; withdraws his salary for a period of one month to coincide with his exclusion from proceedings of the Parliament; withdraws his right of access as a Member to the Holyrood Parliamentary complex for the period of one month to coincide with his exclusion from the proceedings of the Parliament, and withdraws his rights to any representational, ceremonial and related privileges until dissolution.
Thank you, Mr Harvie. The question on the motion will be put at decision time.