Page 1076 - Week 04 - Thursday, 1 April 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mrs Carnell: "Electricity" is a good word.
MR HUMPHRIES: It is a good word; it fits the context.
Mr De Domenico: It really shocks them when you use that word today.
MR HUMPHRIES: It is shocking, isn't it? Those differences do not warrant, in my respectful opinion, a motion of censure of the Minister.
The third factor in respect of which the Minister has defended himself is the claim that his comments on 23 March maligned and defamed Barry Williams and, by implication, the organisations he represents. Let me say, first of all, that the word "defamed" is used a bit widely. Defamation is a highly technical concept, much like murder or theft or any other crime. To say that someone has defamed someone else is not necessarily provable, particularly where the claim is being made in respect of a person who speaks under the privilege of a parliament. Defamation is very difficult, if not impossible, in these circumstances, so there is no question of it being defamation. Maligned is certainly the case. As far as Mr Stevenson's claim on this count is concerned, I do think that it is reasonable to read in here a very serious maligning of Mr Williams.
The first comment that Mr Connolly makes is that Mr Stevenson's comment "confirms all the prejudices of those hardline, right-wing misogynists out there who are dedicated to overturning domestic violence laws". Although those words are not directed expressly at Mr Williams or Parents Without Partners, I think it is in the circumstances not unreasonable to conclude that they are in fact directed in that general direction. To describe the contents of Mr Williams's letter as "extremist ratbaggery" is, I think, also a very direct attack on those organisations.
Mr Moore made reference to the fact that Mr Stevenson sees things in black-and-white terms, and I think that that claim could pretty equally be levelled at Mr Connolly. Mr Connolly does see things very much as good or bad, and there is very little in between, and people as being either true believers or right-wing misogynists, or whatever it might be. That is a regrettable trait. It is not the first time that we have seen an indication that the Minister is prepared to attack people outside the Assembly who do not take the same view as he or his Government.
Mr De Domenico: He had a go at Neighbourhood Watch.
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, the comments about Neighbourhood Watch, I think, on that same day come to mind. I also recall a little altercation he had with some women who came to see him about pornography last year.
Mr Connolly: They keep sending me letters.
MR HUMPHRIES: I was not present. I am not commenting on who was right and who was wrong, but there was a very great readiness on the part of the Minister to spring into a situation of saying, "You are wrong and I am right, and that is the end of the matter". I suspect that life is a bit more delicate and complicated than that. Having said that, I must say that I would certainly plead guilty to the charge of having attacked people outside this Assembly.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .