JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Thursday, 14 Nov 2002

Vol. 1 No. 2

Election of Vice-Chairman.

Chairman

That concludes this part of the meeting. I thank the Minister and Minister of State for answering questions.

Members will know that Deputy Kirk has been appointed vice-Chairman of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body and has therefore resigned as vice-Chairman of this committee. I pay tribute to him for his time as vice-Chairman. He accompanied me on a visit to Stormont some weeks ago and we had a useful exchange there and he will continue to serve as a member of this committee. I thank him for his contribution and congratulate him on his appointment to his new position. I invite nominations for vice-Chairman.

Deputy Carey

I propose Deputy Haughey.

Deputy Mulcahy

I second the proposal.

Chairman

Are there any other proposals? As there are no other proposals, it gives me pleasure to declare Deputy Haughey elected vice-Chairman.

Deputy Haughey

I thank the committee for electing me to this onerous position. I have been a member of this committee on and off since 1987, when the committee was called the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Community - a somewhat cumbersome title. We have come a long way since then and the committee has developed and grown. Like the Chairman, I pay tribute to the outgoing vice-Chairman. He stepped into the breach immediately following the general election in the middle of the Nice treaty referendum campaign and I thank him for his contribution. I look forward to working with the Chairman and the other members of the committee in the important challenges ahead with regard to the European Union.

Chairman

I will do my best to ensure it is an onerous task. I thank and congratulate Deputy Haughey.

The joint committee went into private session at 1.04 p.m. and adjourned at 1.10 p.m. until2 p.m. on Wednesday, 20 November 2002.