MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND MEETING
OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON WEDNESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2000.
Present: Gregory Campbell MLA (Chairperson)
Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Eileen Bell MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
David Ervine MLA
Michelle Gildernew MLA
James Leslie MLA
Patricia Lewsley MLA
Alex Maskey MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Eugene McMenamin MLA
Ken Robinson MLA
Jim Shannon MLA
In Attendance: Dr Andrew Peoples (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Christine Darrah (Assistant Clerk, Education)
Mr Damien McVeigh (Committee Assistant)
Apologies: P J Bradley MLA
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Rt Hon John Taylor MP MLA
1. Chairperson's introduction and apologies
The Chairperson, Mr Gregory Campbell, informed members that an informal meeting was scheduled for Friday, 4 February 2000, with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Attendees would be Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and the Committee Clerk. Apologies listed above.
2. Minutes of proceedings, Wednesday 26 January 2000
The first page of the draft minutes of the proceedings was agreed.
3. Matters arising from minutes, Wednesday 26 January 2000
All members were asked to check their declaration of interests and notify the Clerk of any amendments before the next meeting.
Mr Maskey asked for the Chairperson's comments on two paragraphs on the second page. The Chairperson's view was that the minutes were an accurate record. Debate then ensued about the Chairperson not having met with the Sinn Fein members following the adjournment, carried by majority, at the last meeting.
Mr Ervine felt that the refusal of the Chairperson to honour the democratic decision of the Committee was in breach of his position. He proposed a motion of no confidence in the Chairperson. Mrs Bell seconded this proposal. Several members expressed their views in the subsequent debate, which ended with the Chairperson gaining the Committee's consent to read out a copy of a letter from the Speaker to the Chairman of the Standards and Privileges Committee.
Further debate continued with extracts from the letter being read out to inform members. During this debate an amendment was proposed by Mr Gibson that the Committee should adjourn until the Committee of Standards and Privileges Committee reported on the matter. Mr Shannon seconded this. Dr McDonnell suggested that this was not an amendment but a second proposal and the first one should be voted on before considering a new proposal. Ms Lewsley queried the timing of the letter's introduction to the debate and the Chairperson replied that he did not want to stifle debate with an earlier introduction.
Following further questioning from Mrs Bell, the Chairperson again indicated that he would not disadvantage nor preclude anyone and he intended to address members in the same way as last week. The initial proposal by Mr Ervine and seconded by Mrs Bell was put to the vote. This was carried by a majority of members.
Mr Maskey asked the minutes to state that Mr McLaughlin and himself had informed the Clerk immediately after the previous meeting that they were available to meet the Chairperson. When he had no response from the Chairperson he brought the matter to the attention of the Speaker. There was a short debate on confidentiality as a result of press and media interviews shortly after the previous meeting. The Chairperson concluded business at 2.54pm.
Mr Gregory Campbell MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
26 January 2000 / Menu / 09 February 2000