KRACOEUS-8249 : Fix Integration Tests
KRACOEUS-8418: Fixing null pointers
Merge pull request #1178 from gathreya/nullPointer-KRACOEUS-8418

KRACOEUS-8418: Fixing null pointers
Merge pull request #1173 from blackcathacker/test_fixes

KRACOEUS-8249 : Fix Integration Tests
KRACOEUS-8406: rice and spring upgrade
KRACOEUS-8246: Fixing hierarchy issues.
Merge pull request #1177 from gathreya/proposalHierarchyBug-8246

KRACOEUS-8246: Fixing hierarchy issues.
Merge pull request #1181 from leoherbie/KRACOEUS-8406

KRACOEUS-8406: rice upgrade