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{
    "id": 430004,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/430004/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 250,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Order, hon. Members! A ruling on this matter will be made but let me say from the outset that it will merely be expounding on my earlier ruling made on 5th December, 2013. The reason is that in that ruling I said that in the event that what I had ruled then became necessary to be further guided on, then on a case by case basis, I would consider making further communications as need arises. But the issues you have discussed are not very light. They are matters of great moment. It is true that there has been confusion. Some of it may have been occasioned through the administrative structures of Parliament, letters issued out concurrently to Cabinet Secretaries and other Government functionaries and thereby causing confusion, of course, leading to the use of certain terminology this afternoon by hon. Mathenge that Cabinet Secretaries could easily have been hijacked. It is an unfortunate situation. It could not happen in the precincts of Parliament though. But even as I do that ruling, I draw the attention of Members to Standing Order No.180 on duties of Committee Chairpersons. “…a chairperson of a committee shall (a) preside at meetings of the committee; (b) perform the functions and exercise the powers assigned to office of the Chairperson by the committee, resolutions of the Assembly or legislation---” The Assembly can resolve that a Chairperson of a particular Committee does any matter that the House will have resolved itself on. On (c) “be the spokesperson of the committee.” I think it is important if you serve in a Committee to know that if you are investigating a matter that is before that Committee, it is totally out of order and you are drawing the House into disrepute to go and purport to make comments outside that Committee. Whether you are addressing a Press conference and it is a matter that is before your Committee, please, be advised. You can discuss and say anything while in the Committee, but before your Committee has tabled a report in the House, it would be utterly wrong and, indeed, out of order for you to begin to discuss the matter with strangers. So, whether it is in a mosque or in a church or any other such like venues, please, resist the temptation to discuss that which has come to you merely because you are a member of a Committee before the Committee has tabled its report before the House. Those are your own Standing Orders. I had intended to draw the attention of hon. (Ms,) Mathenge to the provisions of Standing Order No.209 on the functions of her Committee – the Committee on Implementation. They are very well clearly laid out. They deal with undertakings, petitions and resolutions of the House. Those are undertakings made by the Government; promises made. That is the function of that Committee. It is to make follow-ups. Indeed, I am yet to see you even make recommendations for sanctions against Government The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}