To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the establishment of an independent panel to investigate breaches of the Ministerial Code.

While preparations were under way for a public appointments competition for members of the proposed Panel for Ministerial Standards, you will be aware that the Assembly has now passed the Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which confers statutory authority on the Assembly Commissioner for Standards to investigate complaints about Ministerial conduct. We will now consider the implications of this development for the future provision of an effective complaints system.