Vol. 445 No. 8
It is proposed to take statements on the announcement by the combined loyalist military command of a cessation of all operational hostilities from 12 midnight tonight, and Nos. 8 and 9.
It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the statements will be confined to the Taoiseach, the Leader of the Fine Gael Party, the Leader of the Progressive Democrat Party, the Leader of the Democratic Left Party and the Tánaiste and shall not exceed five minutes in each case.
Are the arrangements for dealing with these statements satisfactory and agreed?
I wish to ask a question on the Order of Business but I would prefer to deal first with this matter, which is more important. It would be a pity to introduce any other routine questions beforehand. I realise that involves a certain reversal of business but if you, a Cheann Comhairle, and the Taoiseach would agree to it, it would be best. I do not wish to raise any extraneous matter now.
I will be allowing appropriate matters to be raised on the Order of Business in the ordinary way.
Unfortunately we have reached that point now and I think we should take the statements on the ceasefire first because it is the more important issue.
Let us have a ceasefire for a few minutes.
Exactly. It will be for about 20 minutes.
I take it that the proposal regarding the statements is satisfactory and agreed?
With your indulgence, Sir, I would appreciate an opportunity to put my party's point of view to the House on this matter along with all the other parties as it is an outcome that the Greens — both North and South of the Border — have been anxious to see come about.
There are other individuals who would like to say something on this subject.
If the House so agrees we have no objection to Deputy Sargent having two minutes to speak before the Tánaiste completes the round of statements.
The democratic mandate of other Members should be respected too.
If Deputies wish to contribute they should be allowed to do so because it is an important matter and we had a rather long debate on the occasion of the IRA ceasefire. I certainly believe that representatives of the Green Party and Independent Deputies and Deputies such as Austin Currie——
I understood the Taoiseach to indicate that he would be quite happy to hear the representative from the Green Party, Deputy Sargent, on the subject.
There are other Deputies who wish to contribute and we should facilitate them if we can.
