To ask the Assembly Commission whether there have been any recent changes to security arrangements and protocols for guests and visitors to Parliament Buildings.

Ms Ennis

I thank the Member for her question. While it would be unwise to discuss the detail of security arrangements in a public forum, the Assembly Commission takes security seriously. Arrangements are kept under review by Assembly management and are revisited and amended, as required. Access by visitors to Parliament Buildings is outlined in the Assembly Commission policy, 'Conduct and Behaviour of Visitors in Parliament Buildings'. That includes general rules of entry and those conditions that are applicable to visitors. Members may have noticed a change, with the visitor experience team taking responsibility for the reception desk to greet visitors when they enter the Building. However, that change operates within the wider framework of our existing security arrangements, which include the requirement to go through the search facility on arrival and the presence of ushers in the Great Hall.

Ms Ennis

Not that I am aware of. The Assembly Commission will keep that under constant review. We will assess how well security arrangements are working, and if there are any incidents, or if there is any need to make any changes to that, any Member can write to the Assembly Commission on that and we will consider it.

Mr Gaston

Will the Member detail or advise what changes have been made by the Commission in the light of the fact that a Sinn Féin employee, who stood accused of child sex offences, was given the run of this Building for months because of Philip McGuigan's failure to cancel his pass? When will we see the publication of the report on the issues that have arisen from the Michael McMonagle scandal?

Ms Ennis

I thank the Member for his question. As he will know, issues relating to that are under investigation. The Assembly Commission has already said that it will not be providing a running commentary on that investigation.