Arising out of the Order of Business, in accordance with Standing Order No. 29 I move the adjournment of the Dáil on a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, to afford the Dáil an opportunity of discussing the statements of Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien and the Minister for External Affairs in regard to the former's resignation from his United Nations post and in particular his statement concerning our own Forces in the Congo.
Adjournment Motion: Resignation from U.N. Post.
The Chair has carefully considered this matter and, having regard inter alia to the discussion which has already taken place in the House to-day— Deputy Corish will resume his seat when the Chair is speaking to Deputy Dr. Browne—the Chair has decided that, as the matter stands at the moment, it is not one contemplated by the Standing Order.
I merely wanted to say —I thought I might have done so before the Leas-Cheann Comhairle gave a decision—that I wished to support the proposal by Deputy Dr. Browne that this matter be dealt with as one of urgent public importance and to add to what Deputy Dr. Browne said by saying it is of grave, urgent national importance in view of the statement of General McKeown.
I have already pointed out to the Deputy who gave notice to the Chair that the Chair has carefully considered the matter and does not consider it one that can be discussed.
Is it not a fact that the whole question of the future and safety of our troops is at stake at the moment and, in view of the fact that this is a matter in which this House should have the greatest possible interest, can you now seriously suggest it is not a matter of urgent public importance to discuss it?
The Deputy is now criticising a decision of the Chair and he is out of order. While I should not enter into any discussion with the Deputy——
I wish to say——
If the Deputy will allow me to answer. While I should not enter into a discussion with the Deputy on the Chair's decision, I might point out that all aspects of this matter were carefully considered, including the position as revealed by the Taoiseach to-day in reply to the Question put down by the Deputy.
May I inform the Chair that I had no Question on this to-day?
I beg your pardon, on Deputy Corish's Question.
I felt this was a matter of such grave importance that a mere Question was completely insufficient to deal with it. I felt that there would be no question whatever but that the Government would be only too anxious to give time to the House to satisfy itself on the situation with regard to our troops and also with regard to the conflicting statements that have appeared so far in connection with Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien's resignation and the statements made by the Minister for External Affairs.
We cannot have a discussion on these points at the moment. The Chair has ruled that they cannot be raised.
Surely the Chair will agree with me that Standing Order No. 29 gives scope to the Chair to suggest—if sufficient Deputies, to the number of 12, are anxious for a discussion of this nature—that the combined wisdom of 12 Deputies should be sufficient to make it clear to the rest of the House and to the Ceann Comhairle that it is essential to discuss this matter?
Might I point out that that is only in the case where the Chair has ruled that the matter can be raised under a particular Standing Order. In this case the Chair has ruled it is not a matter to be raised, and there can be no further discussion on it.
The very fact that there were so many supplementary questions on this issue to-day and that the Ceann Comhairle had necessarily to limit the time available for them, surely emphasises the importance Deputies attach to this whole matter? Further, if this matter is one which is to be debated in the British House of Commons, surely it is one which is much more apposite for debate in this House?
Might I ask whether the Chair considered the position of General McKeown and the statement made by him before deciding whether or not this was a matter appropriate for discussion in this House?
I can assure the Deputy that this matter has been very carefully considered by the Chair. There can be no criticism of the Chair's ruling.
May I suggest that it would be an impossibility for the Chair to give careful consideration to this motion in the short time available to the Chair to examine it?
The Deputy is now reflecting on the Chair's ruling and is completely out of order.
May I point out that, as a matter of courtesy, I informed the Chair prior to this question being raised, although there was no onus on me, according to Standing Orders, to so inform the Chair? It was my right and Deputy Dr. Browne's right in this House to move that motion and, having moved the motion, give to the Ceann Comhairle a copy of the said motion. Surely, under the circumstances, it is not unfair to suggest that what has now happened is that the Ceann Comhairle has taken upon himself the responsibility to back up the Government in keeping the House——
The Deputy should not reflect on the Chair or decisions of the Chair. The Deputy will resume his seat. I am calling No. 1.
This is a matter which transcends the ordinary business of the House.
There can be no further discussion.
I want to insist on this particular matter being discussed.
The Chair has given its decision and the Deputy must accept it.
May I say this——
No. 1. The Deputy will please resume his seat.
With all due respect, I do not see why I should be prevented in this House from raising a question of the safety of our troops in the light of the statements which have been made by Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien.
I have decided on this matter and it may not be discussed further. The Deputy may not proceed with his argument.
Surely the Chair has the authority, under Standing Order 39——
The Deputy is completely out of order.
I regret the fact that I have to criticise the decision of the Chair, but the subject matter is so serious——
If the Deputy refuses to abide by the ruling of the Chair or to resume his seat, I must ask him to leave the House.
Sir, with the greatest respect, I want to make it clear——
The Deputy has made himself very clear.
——that the people must have the opportunity——
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
Not until I get a guarantee from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle that this matter will be discussed in this House.
I am asking the Deputy to leave the House.
He wants to be put out.
I am not going to be silenced by Fianna Fáil.
Chair.
Mr. Donnellan
Deputy McQuillan will be shouted down.
The Deputy is completely out of order.
I want to make it quite clear——
The Deputy may not make any speech on this matter at this moment. The Chair has asked the Deputy——
The matter is too important to be dealt with in this fashion, and as far as I am concerned——
I am asking the Deputy to leave the House. The Deputy should remember that this is the national Parliament and that he should not abuse the privileges of the House.
And this is one subject we should now be discussing in the national Parliament.
We want to make sure that this Parliament will be respected in this country in the future. I have no respect for this Parliament or for this House. I do not want to see the rights of Deputies trampled on. That is what has been taking place here for the past two years. On this issue, I will not accept the view——
Again I ask the Deputy to leave the House.
They are trying to reduce the House to the level of a trivial debating society.