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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 3

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.

Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following urgent matter of national and immediate importance: the need to instruct the Health Service Employers Agency to come to the table with realistic proposals to settle the public health doctors dispute as a strike cannot now be contemplated when Ireland is about to host its largest ever population mix at the Special Olympics, when there is a greatly heightened risk of bio-terrorism and when the WHO has just declared an emerging disease, SARS, a global health threat.

I call Deputy Joe Higgins.

A Deputy

Will Deputy Higgins apologise?

I assure you the photocall was completely unscheduled. If the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform had forewarned us we could have had our shinguards on as well.

Under Standing Order 31 of Dáil Éireann, I request the adjournment of the Dáil—

Any man who would handcuff himself—

(Interruptions).

Allow Deputy Higgins to continue without interruption. Deputy Higgins, do not allow yourself to be provoked.

It does not take much.

(Interruptions).

I did not allow myself to be provoked last night under much greater pressure, a Cheann Comhairle, so I will not allow these people to do it. This is what complicity with the American war machine means in reality. They are assisting war planes to break children to smithereens.

(Interruptions).

Deputy Higgins, continue with Standing Order 31.

A Cheann Comhairle, under Standing Order 31, I ask you to adjourn Dáil Éireann today to discuss the gross over-reaction of the Garda Síochána during a peaceful anti-war demonstration outside Leinster House, to require the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make a statement on the matter and, in particular, to state why dozens of gardaí in riot gear had no identification numbers visible and why they were deployed against an entirely peaceful protest meeting. I ask the Tánaiste to ensure the Minister comes before the House—

Ask Iggy Donovan. He was on the radio.

The Minister, Deputy Ahern, was not there.

(Interruptions).

I call Deputy Arthur Morgan.

American war planes are being allowed to go through Shannon.

Deputy Higgins, please resume your seat. I ask Deputies on the Government side to allow Deputy Morgan to contribute.

Under Standing Order 31, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration: the provocative act of sending in the riot squad to trample and abuse peaceful demonstrators in Kildare Street yesterday; to commend and congratulate the peaceful protesters—

Were they members of Sinn Féin?

—for the mannerly and orderly way they conducted themselves; and to ask that in future no Members' vehicles are permitted to attempt to drive over peaceful protesters at the gate of Leinster House.

Bullyboy tactics. That is disgraceful behaviour.

In accordance with Standing Order 31, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention: the need for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to order an inquiry into the manner in which the Garda handled the peaceful demonstration outside Leinster House last night; to determine whether the Garda response was appropriate for a peaceful demonstration; and, particularly, to investigate reports that members of the force were not wearing identification numbers.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration: the need for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to explain what guidance or direction, if any, was given to the Garda, resulting in the unnecessary and excessively aggressive use of force against peaceful protesters which was witnessed at last night's protest outside this House.

I seek to move the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss an important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely the unacceptable and provocative behaviour of gardaí at last night's anti-war protest outside the Dáil; the need to ascertain why, following the controversy surrounding last year's reclaim the streets protest, riot squad gardaí were again deployed without identification numbers being displayed; and the need for the Government to tell the Dáil if future peaceful protests against the invasion of Iraq are to be treated in this manner.

Deputies

Bring in Pat.

I call Deputy Gormley to state his matter.

I seek to move the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate an issue of urgent public importance, namely the allegations of excessive force used by members of the Garda Síochána against peaceful protesters outside Leinster House yesterday; the need for the Minister for Justice to explain if he sanctioned this action and why the riot squad was used; and why many gardaí did not have their numbers displayed.

I seek to move the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise the following separate matter of urgent importance, namely the loss of some 51 jobs at the country's only plastic beverage bottle recycling plant at Wellman International Limited at Mullagh near Kells, which has to import almost all its post-consumer material; and the need for the Department of the Environment and Local Government to establish a national collection and deposit system for plastic beverage bottles which is already in place in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany and Sweden.

Having considered all the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.

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