Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Nov 1987

Vol. 375 No. 1

Request to move Adjournment of Dáil Under Standing Order 30.

Mr. Dukes

I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, that is, the implications for national security of recent events. The events which I have in mind concern the shipment of arms, ammunition and explosives from Libya, apparently destined for subversive organisations on this island, the similarity between the explosives used in last Sunday's outrage in Enniskillen and those found on board the vessel, Eksund, the apparent acquiescence by the Government in a move to pay ransom in the O'Grady kidnap case and the apparent willingness of citizens of this State to give aid, assistance and shelter to kidnappers and to perpetrators of other violent and subversive crimes. I ask the House to call on all elected public representatives, of all parties, and all Irish people to repudiate violence, to reject and to condemn all organisations committed to violence and to co-operate fully with the police forces in all parts of the island so that those who commit crimes of violence can be brought to justice.

Under Standing Order 30 I should like to ask that the debate begin at 5 p.m. or thereabouts. I understand the details could be arranged between the Whips.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Alan Dukes gave me notice of the motion he has just outlined. I considered the motion to be one contemplated by Standing Order 30. I must now ask the Members who support that request to rise in their places.

More than 12 Deputies rose.

An Ceann Comhairle

The required number of Deputies having risen in their places, accordingly I give leave to raise the motion. The motion can be moved at the time indicated by Deputy Alan Dukes, at 5 p.m. or at 5.30 p.m., depending on the arrangement between the Whips.

Deputy Dick Spring gave notice that he wished to raise a similar matter under Standing Order 30. However, as Deputy Alan Dukes gave me earlier notice, I have given him precedence in this matter.

Mr. D. O'Malley

The Standing Order seems to envisage that the debate will take only one and a half hours. It should be agreed that the matters which Deputy Dukes listed are complex to say the least of it and could not be satisfactorily debated by the House in such a short time. Also, the nature of the debate as envisaged by Standing Order 30 is not satisfactory in as much as answers may not necessarily be forthcoming from the Government to the questions asked, I wonder if it would not be better to have a formal agreed debate for a period of five or six hours to which the Minister for Justice or somebody nominated by the Government would reply in the normal way.

An Ceann Comhairle

May I suggest that the Deputy will have the ideal opportunity to regulate this matter on the Order of Business? I suggest he regulate it there and then.

Mr. Spring

I submitted notice to raise this matter primarily because I believe it is necessary that this House should have an opportunity of reflecting on what happened on this island, North and South, in the last seven days and to reflect the revulsion felt by the people. I am inclined to agree with Deputy O'Malley that we would need more time for this debate and I have asked the Taoiseach if he could see his way to allow at least four hours for this discussion. It is very important that a spokesperson on behalf of the Government should have an opportunity to reply to the contributions made because there are many questions which need to be answered clearly and in a specific way. Therefore, I ask that we have at least four hours for this debate and it is very important that it takes place as soon as possible.

Mr. Dukes

May I——

An Ceann Comhairle

I hope to pass to the formal business of the House when Deputy Dukes completes his question.

Mr. Dukes

May I make the point that Standing Order 30 does not specify any time limit for the debate. I am anxious that the House will have an opportunity to discuss all these matters. I can indicate now that I am perfectly agreeable to any later sitting of the House this evening in order to allow the matters to be gone into fully.