Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a notice of motion under Standing Order 30 from Deputy Ray Burke and call on him to state the matter of which he has given notice.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 30.
I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil on a specific and important matter of public interest requiring specific and urgent consideration: the refusal of the Tánaiste, Deputy Spring, to honour the declared policy of the Government on openness, transparency and accountability by his decision to refuse to answer, and to transfer to the Taoiseach, a priority question tabled by me today asking if the Tánaiste's attention had been drawn to the reported request by the Taoiseach to Mr. John Hume in relation to the vote on the Scott report in the House of Commons; if he has checked the veracity of the report; his views on the appropriateness of such a request and if he would make a statement on the matter. This is a matter of——
Deputy Burke gave me notice of a certain matter and he may not go beyond that.
I have not gone beyond it.
I have the Deputy's statement before me.
This was handed to me by your office and I have not gone beyond it. I have not finished it.
It is very nearly finished. I have a copy of the Deputy's statement.
It has been prejudged.
I will not go beyond it but I have not completed it. This matter relates to the Tánaiste's knowledge and views and it is not relevant to the Taoiseach.
Having considered the matter fully I do not consider it to be one contemplated by the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.