Speaker of House Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has reminded Members of Parliament that Standing Committee deliberations and the contents of committee reports are not to be shared or released before they are tabled in Parliament.

Ratu Epeli expressed his disappointment in Parliament yesterday regarding a possible breach of privilege and warned Members of Parliament to ensure it is not repeated again.

It is believed information from the Standing Committee was released on social media.

“It has come to my attention that the deliberations of the Standing Order Committee and the full committee report due to be tabled today have been released to a website without the authority of the House,” Ratu Epeli said.

“It may be considered a matter of breach of privilege that deliberations of the committee and the committee’s draft or final reports to be released before they are tabled in this house and become public documents.”

He said it was fitting that members of the Parliament receive committee reports first and do not learn about them and their recommendations through the media or social media.

“I am deeply disappointed that this has happened and I trust it will never happen again,” he said.

Edited by Percy Kean