It is proposed to take Nos. 14, 15 and 16 (resumed).
Order of Business.
I should like some information. At my request Deputy Andrews put down a Private Notice Question about the violent attacks on unarmed gardaí on the Border by armed men. Is this question not being permitted?
No. The Chair has communicated with the Deputy giving his reasons. I understand, nevertheless, that the question will be taken by the Minister for Justice tomorrow.
Without in any way entering on disorderly debate, would it be possible for the Chair to indicate what is required under this Private Notice Question rule? We understand that the matter must be of urgent public importance. I submit that violent attacks on gardaí repeated in quick succession by armed men are matters not only of crucial importance from the public point of view but also of extreme urgency in that because of the quick repetition of these incidents in the last few days, now that these incidents have been perpetrated and these attempts have been successful there is a great danger of a repetition of them unless adequate steps are taken to prevent attacks on med gardaí in the meantime.
While the Chair does not normally permit his decisions to be canvassed in the House in this way, in reply to the Deputy I may say that to satisfy the requirements for a Private Notice Question the matter must be deemed to be one of public importance. The matter raised in Deputy Andrews's question meets this requirement but it does not have the required degree of urgency. My ruling is in accordance with precedents. The practice has been to disallow questions for Private Notice where the incident or incidents are over. It is to be assumed that normal police precautions are taken against a recurrence of this kind. I should also add that the incidents occurred on 17th, 20th and 21st April and that a question submitted following the first incident could, on ordinary notice, have been in time for today's Order Paper while a question on the remaining incidents could have been put down in time for tomorrow's Order Paper. I understand, as I have already said, that the Minister for Justice has agreed to take the question tomorrow. Had the Deputy put down the questions in time and conformed with Standing Orders he could have had some of them dealt with here today.
I accept your ruling and naturally I am bound by it but I find it hard to accept your interpretation of urgency in view of what I pointed out—the grave danger of a repetition of these incidents once these men have already got away with them.
The Chair acts in accordance with the precedents and practice of the House and has not deviated from them.
But is it not the practice that——
We cannot have a discussion on the matter. In deference to Deputy Lynch I have given an explanation.
I respectfully suggest that again the Chair is wrong. Could I point out that the first question to the Minister for Justice——
May I also say that the Deputy had this matter raised recently in the Committee of Procedure and Privileges and the verdict was against him in the matter.
And I shall raise it again and again and again until I get justice.
The Deputy is quite entitled to do that.
Could I inquire from the Minister for Health when No. 20, the Misuse of Drugs Bill, 1973, which has now been on the Order Paper for about 12 months is likely to be circulated?
I cannot give a definite date but as soon as possible I shall have the Second Stage taken in the House.
Is the Minister aware of the urgency of the Bill, of the great problems that are continuing to arise in regard to the misuse of drugs?
I am.
Is the Minister further aware, that the previous Minister circulated a Bill to Deputies on 4th January, 1973? Could that Bill not be used or adapted to meet the present very serious situation?
Yes, but I want to make a change which has not yet been cleared by the Attorney General's office and the Parliamentary draftsmen.
After 12 months?
No. I may tell the Deputy that it is substantially the same Bill except for the change that I want to insert and it is proving difficult to have it inserted.
With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise the subject matter of Question No. 79 on the Order Paper of Thursday, 20th March on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.