Barry Sinanan: I Am The Law

I've read an interesting blog post questioning whether Sinanan had the legal authority to issue a rule that required MP's to beg Sinanan for permission to use a laptop in Parliament. To summarize:

• The House of Representatives conducts its business using the Standing Orders of The House of Representatives written in 1961. Obviously, computers weren't around during that time. But section 91(1) creates a provision for unforseen circumstances.

Quote:

91 (1) "In any matter not herein
provided for, resort shall be had to the usage and practice of the
Commons House of Parliament of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
which shall be follow as far as the same may be applicable to this
House, and not inconsistent with these Standing Orders nor with the
practice of this House."

• What section 91(1) states is that Sinanan had to be guided by the Standing Orders of the Parliament in England when he wrote his Febuary 25th memo on the use of electronic equipment.

So, you might have already guess. MP's in England are allowed to use laptops, cell phones and other devices of the first world in Parliament without a permission slip from the speaker. So Sinanan expels Panday because he didn't get a permission slip from him based on a memo Sinanan wrote which contradicts the Standing Order of the UK Parliament.

Credit where credit is due:

http://ohun5rivers.blogspot.com/2008/03/im-not-sure-whether-speaker-barr...