SELECT COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AND FAMILY AFFAIRS debate -
Tuesday, 3 Feb 2004

Business of Select Committee.

Chairman

The committee is meeting to consider the Civil Registration Bill 2003. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan, and her officials will attend. I remind committee members and officials to ensure that mobile phones are switched off. We will consider this Bill until about 6.30 p.m. If we have not concluded by then, a further meeting will have to be arranged. Is it agreed that we meet until about 6.30 p.m.? Agreed.

In that context, I have been advised that because there are amendments in my name I must step down from the Chair.

Mr. O’Connor

Or withdraw your amendments.

Chairman

No, I will be proceeding with my amendments.

Mr. O’Connor

I am just giving you the option.

Chairman

I do not feel that I should have to step down from the Chair.

Mr. O’Connor

No, I did not say that.

Chairman

The amendments are being proposed by my colleague, Deputy Seán Ryan, and I will only have a right to contribute like any other member. In my role as Chairman, I have been always very fair and impartial to everybody. I am concerned that advice of this nature has been given and I will have to seek further advice about it because I certainly have not allowed anything in my name to interfere with my impartiality and I have made contributions at all Stages.

Mr. Carty

We have no problem with the Chairman.

Chairman

I know that, but in the context of the advice I have received I will step down. Deputy Seán Ryan will move the amendments.

Mr. S. Ryan

In the context of the advice that has been given here this afternoon, it is despicable that a verbal opinion would be given that the Chairman should not continue to chair this committee. It is scandalous. There has been a custom and practice here in the past that previous motions submitted by myself and the Chair went ahead as arranged. For an official to come along and give advice which is not in writing to the Chairman and to the rest of us is totally unacceptable. It is up to the Chairman. If I was in the Chair,

I would not accept that advice until I saw it in written form. I recommend that we get that written advice as quickly as possible because what has happened here this afternoon is totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned.

Mr. D. Wallace

I endorse what the Chairman said. At all times the Chairman has been impartial and fair to all sides. The advice is not being given by us. I do not know from where the advice came and, therefore, I cannot comment on it. It is a matter between Chairman and the officials to decide whether it is appropriate.

Mr. Carty

I agree with what has been said by the Chairman and Deputy Dan Wallace.

Mr. O’Connor

I think we are all in agreement. Whatever the problem is, perhaps the Chairman needs a few minutes to work it out.

Chairman

In the context, I do not want to delay the committee. I am certainly somebody who takes his responsibilities very seriously and I would never influence anybody in any way. My colleague, Deputy Seán Ryan, will propose the amendments. Some of them have been signalled to the Minister on Second Stage and she will not be surprised by some of them. I have always accepted advice, but I certainly will be seeking my own advice on this matter.

To allow the meeting proceed, I ask the Deputy Chairman, Deputy Donal Moynihan, a very able person, to chair the meeting.

Deputy D. Moynihan took the Chair.

Acting Chairman (Mr. D. Moynihan)

I welcome the Minister and her officials to the meeting.