Under the provisions which allow us to raise a matter of special urgency, I was hoping that at this recommencement of business I might be able to draw attention to——
Private Business. - Business of Seanad.
The Senator is now raising a matter of urgency without informing the Chair beforehand. This can be done only on notice at the commencement of public business.
I have in mind the urgent situation which has arisen in relation to Ireland because of the action of the Soviet Union against Alexander Solzhenitsyn and it seems to me that——
I am afraid I must inform the Senator on this point. There is provision in the Standing Orders for raising matters of urgent public importance. A certain procedure is laid down in regard to that. The Senator must follow that procedure if he wants to take advantage of those Standing Orders.
In view of the fact that we do not know when the Seanad will sit again and that this matter of grave human importance arises at a time when we are negotiating with the Soviet Union——
I must say to the Senator that he is not in order in accordance with the Standing Orders and accordingly I cannot allow him to pursue the matter.
In other words, the Standing Orders of the House are so rigid that such a matter of great human importance as the persecution of a great writer——
The Senator is now arguing the substance of the matter. The position is that the Standing Orders are clear.
Well, I admit to being inexperienced in the procedure of the House so I was, in a way, looking for clarification as to whether in a matter as urgent as that involving Solzhenitsyn and in view of our ambition to have diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, I would have the right to raise it.
The Senator can consult me privately in regard to the operation of Standing Orders, but it is certainly not in order to raise such a matter now. Neither is it in order to discuss in detail the matter. I have given my ruling.
I apologise for my importunity in the matter. Of course I will not pursue it at the moment, but I hope to raise it the next time the Seanad meets, because it seems to me to be a matter of such grave importance to us all.
There is a notice of motion handed in by the Senator in this regard and he could consult the Leader of the House in regard to the taking of this at an early date if he wishes. That course is certainly open to him.
Thank you very much.