Page 3744 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 October 1990
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As other speakers have said, I cannot see any justification for putting another member on that committee even though it be you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I have nothing against you and, as Mrs Nolan says, there are transcripts to read. But I do not think it is quite the same as being there and understanding what was said. I know that myself from when I attended the committee and I read some of the things later; it was not quite the same as sitting there and knowing exactly what was going on.
Therefore, as Mr Connolly and other speakers have said, I do not think that there is any need for another person to be sitting on the committee for this short time. It is very short; it is towards the end of the estimates meetings. I think we have all learnt a lot out of the estimates meetings. We as an Opposition have learnt a tremendous amount which has been of great advantage to us and which I am quite sure we will be able to use for the next 12 months in this house. However, I cannot support the motion and another member being put on the committee for such a short time.
MR COLLAERY (Deputy Chief Minister) (3.30): Mr Deputy Speaker, as far as I am concerned the Opposition's objection to this arrangement takes me by surprise. I understood that in discharging Ms Maher we had a compact in relation to the replacement. So, clearly I was mistaken and certainly, Mr Deputy Speaker, when the decision was made in our joint party room it was understood that there would be agreement on the other side. Clearly I was mistaken in that.
Mrs Grassby: You had not asked us. You cannot expect us to agree to things when you do not ask us.
MR COLLAERY: Well, my understanding was that this would be agreed to. But, certainly, Mr Deputy Speaker, the standing orders provide that committees be constructed in proportion to those elected to this Assembly. There is a clear indication in standing order 221, and it is on that basis, of course, that committees are constructed. It is only proper, to put it very shortly, that committees remain in that proportion in their spokesperson role in the Assembly.
Mrs Grassby: They do not have to.
MR COLLAERY: Mrs Grassby says that they do not have to. The fact of the matter is that the Opposition and, indeed, Mr Moore are approaching this with this gamesmanship idea of having the numbers. Mr Deputy Speaker, Mr Moore wishes to reflect on an earlier vote of the Assembly that set up the committee. I am not going to go back through that process. All I say is that all the Government is going to do - and we will do this, of course, because with respect, Mr Deputy Speaker, we are going to proceed to place you on that committee - is ensure that the membership of committees, as stated in standing order 221, is composed of
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