Council 12 January 2007
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SPECIAL MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Held in the City Hall on Friday, 12th January, 2007 at the hour of 10.00 o'clock a.m., pursuant to Notice.
Members present
The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson) (in the Chair); and Councillors Adamson, Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Convery, Cunningham, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Hanna, Hartley, Humphrey, Jones, Kelly, Kirkpatrick, Lavery, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCausland, McClenaghan, McCoubrey, McGimpsey, McKenzie, Mullaghan, Newton, Ní Chuilín, O'Neill, O'Reilly, Rodgers, Rodway, Smyth and Stoker.
Reading of Scriptures
In accordance with Standing Order 9, the Deputy Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.
Summons
The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.
Filming and Recording of Proceedings
The Chief Executive reported that requests had been received from a number of television companies for permission to film the proceedings of the meeting.
The Council granted permission for the broadcasting companies to be admitted to the Council Chamber to record the proceedings of the meeting.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy) and Councillors Crozier, Moore, Hendron and Stalford.
Death of Councillor David Ervine
Moved by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson), Seconded by Councillor Smyth and
Resolved - That the Council records its deepest sympathy to the family circle of Councillor David Ervine and pays tribute to his service to the citizens of Belfast as an Elected Member since 1997.
The Deputy Lord Mayor then read the following statement in tribute to Councillor David Ervine.
"The death of Councillor David Ervine has left a huge gap in our Council: one which will be very hard - if not impossible - to fill. Something which has been reflected, I think, in the great sense of shock and loss felt across the entire political spectrum in Northern Ireland.
Councillor Ervine was first elected to the Council in May, 1997 as a representative for the Pottinger Electoral Area. As a Councillor, he worked extremely hard for his constituents who returned him at the Polls on three separate occasions. His passion and enthusiasm in representing them and securing for them equal and fair treatment was evident in the many Committees and Outside Agencies which he was a Member during his nine years in the Council. During his term as a Councillor, he served on the Policy and Resources, Client Services, Contract Services and Community and Recreation Committees, as well as a number of Sub-Committees. He also represented the Council on various Outside Bodies, including the East Belfast Partnership Board, the Northern Ireland Local Government Association and the Eastern Health and Social Services Council.
David Ervine's role in helping to secure a resolution to the difficulties which we face has been acknowledged widely over recent days. We may not have agreed on every area of politics but the work he did to make this City a better place for all has earned him respect across the entire political divide. He was someone who stood up for what he believed in, but it is to his credit he recognised that, to bring about a true and lasting peace which would protect the wider interests of the community which he represented, it would be necessary to engage in serious political discussion with a wide range of participants.
He was a crucial voice within loyalism in the run-up to the 1994 ceasefire and he remained a tireless advocate of the peace process. He showed leadership when others were found wanting but at the same time demonstrated respect and compassion when appropriate. History will record his contribution to peace in Northern Ireland, but let us also remember David Ervine the man, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a warm, friendly individual who reached across the divide to his former political enemies with courage and humour in order to build a shared future for us all.
An accomplished orator, he was accepted by his political colleagues and opponents as being not only extremely capable but also someone who was always pragmatic and sensible, cool under pressure and able to determine the correct course to take when perhaps others could not.
On behalf of Belfast City Council, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to David's wife, sons and the entire family circle.
Councillor David Ervine was a respectful and courteous gentleman, a friend to each and everyone of us here and a true statesman in Northern Ireland politics. He will be greatly missed by everyone within the corridors of Belfast City Hall."
The following Members also spoke to the Motion and paid tribute to Councillor David Ervine:
Councillors Newton, P. Maskey, D. Browne, Maginness, Long and Smyth.
The resolution was passed in silence, the Members standing.
Lord Mayor Chairman
