The next item on the agenda is the election of vice-Chairman.
Election of Vice-Chairman.
I propose Deputy Pat Carey for the position of vice-Chairman.
I second that proposal.
As there are no other nominations, Deputy Carey is duly elected vice-Chairman of the committee.
While I congratulate Deputy Carey, I consider it a bad principle to have the Chairman and vice-Chairman of the committee drawn from the same Government party. That is not a reflection on Deputy Carey's capacity, but it is regrettable.
While you, Sir, and your vice-Chairman will do an excellent job, I agree with the view expressed by Senator Norris.
The committee, by tradition, has two sub-committees, one that deals with human rights and the other with overseas development aid. Perhaps at the next meeting the committee will elect a Chairman from the Government and Opposition sides. I suggest the convenors meet to discuss this aspect.
I thank the proposer and seconder of my nomination and the members of the committee for their support. I am serving on the Select Committee on European Affairs and served on the Joint Committee on European Affairs in the last Dáil. In my experience, both committees have worked well on an all-party basis and I have no doubt the same working methods will apply to this committee. I look forward to engaging with all shades of opinion in seeking to put our best line forward.
Senator Mooney: I endorse all that has been said. I have served on Oireachtas committees dealing with foreign affairs since the middle 1990s and always found it a great privilege to be reappointed. I congratulate the new Chairman and vice-Chairman. Senator Norris expressed reservations about the election of the Chairman and vice-Chairman from the same Government party. I take a different view. This is an Oireachtas joint committee. No Member of the Upper House has been elected to either position in any of the 14 joint committees. Former Senator Mick Lanigan was the only Member of the Upper House who had the privilege to chair a sub-committee when he chaired the sub-committee on overseas development of this committee.
My colleagues and I in the Seanad take a view on this, directed not at the Government, but at all parties which have colluded in ensuring the positions of Chairman and vice-Chairman stay within the Dáil. Their spurious argument is that, because they are members of select committees dealing with legislation, Members of the Dáil should exclusively hold these positions. Senators have expressed the view to the committee on Dáil reform, comprising the Whips from all the parties and endorsed by the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges, that the position of joint vice-Chairman should be created which would be filled by a member elected from the Upper House. This would not take away from the current situation, but create an opportunity for Members of the Upper House to aspire to hold office, even at that level. In saying this I do not wish to downgrade the position of vice-Chairman, to which I am happy that my friend and colleague, Deputy Carey, has been elected.
This is considered to be one of the more senior Oireachtas committees and if these views are not expressed here, they may not be expressed elsewhere. I appeal, through this committee, to the Whips of all the parties to reconsider this matter and support the collective view of the Upper House. In the meantime I wish the Chairman and vice-Chairman every success. I am heartened by the opening remarks of the Chairman which follow in a proud tradition. I have no doubt he will be an excellent Chairman.
I wish you, Sir, and the vice-Chairman well. I hope we have good working relations on the committee which was the case when I served on previous committees dealing with foreign affairs.
With regard to the documentation accompanying the agenda for the committee, it should be noted that its remit is to consider what is happening at the United Nations and in the Middle East, Africa, South America, the United States and Northern Ireland. It must also consider issues, such as human rights and Anglo-Irish relations.
The committee must also scrutinise European Union business conducted by the Oireachtas. If it involves itself in this, we will tip ourselves over the edge and obviate the necessity for the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs, a matter I have discussed with you, Sir. However, we can come to a working arrangement. The Joint Committee on European Affairs is in place for a specific purpose. As it is, this committee has a huge workload which will expand over time. The most immediate issue which it must address is the situation in Iraq.
I wish you well, Sir, as Chairman of this committee which is an important one. You will have an arduous task. I look forward to working with you in an objective manner.
Thank you. I understand, on the question of scrutiny of EU business, we deal with matters referred to this committee. There is so much work to be done that I do not believe there will be difficulties in this area. We will now turn to the work programme.
The joint committee went into private session at 3.05 p.m. and adjourned at 4.10 p.m. sine die.