Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 8 October 2020

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Election of Vice Chairman

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that it has become customary in the Oireachtas that if a Cathaoirleach is from the Government then the Vice Chairman will be from the Opposition and vice versa. In this case, it would be customary that the Vice Chairman would be from the Opposition, in order to have a committee that is a collective and consensual. It is good practice. This is the first argument.

I have great respect for Deputy Lawless and I have no objection to his nomination. He is a very capable parliamentarian. I have worked with him on other committees and I have no problem with the man's capacity to do the job. I just think it would be better to have Government and Opposition members in the roles of Chairman and Vice Chairman. Senator Ó Donnghaile served with great distinction on this committee in the previous Oireachtas. He is very passionate about pulling together all perspectives and persuasions throughout the island. He is a former mayor of Belfast. I have watched him at close chambers. I ask people to consider the issue of a cross-party Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach, more so than pitting the track record of Deputy Lawless, which is immense, against the track record of Senator Ó Donnghaile, which is also immense.

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