It is proposed to take No. 1, only.
Order of Business.
Very briefly, I should like to enter a short few words of protest in regard to the manner of summoning the Seanad and, indeed, this applies to the other House also, and the fact that we are only discussing this one matter when what we have on our hands at the moment in Ireland is a national emergency in regard to the economy. I might point out to the Seanad and, in particular, to the Leader of the House that there is a motion standing in the names of members of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad, No. 21, for some time now in which we note with concern the deteriorating state of the national economy. This is the real emergency in Ireland and our motion relates to that serious emergency position. I should like to say that the Seanad should be called back at whatever expense is involved to discuss that matter rather than—to use the words of the Minister for Justice in his speech on the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1972— appearing here to discuss what is essentially a window-dressing operation in regard to declaring a national emergency on another matter that can be dealt with fully under legislation. I should like to ask the Leader of the House on foot of what I just said when it is proposed to take this important motion dealing with the fundamental problem in our society at the moment, the state of the Irish economy.
I should like to support what Senator Lenihan has said. It is quite clear to everyone, not merely to Members of the Oireachtas, but to every man, woman and, indeed, child throughout the country, that there is a national emergency which is not the national emergency referred to in the motion before us today. The really serious matter is the economy of the country, the state of unemployment, the absence of employment for those leaving school and so on. I should like to remind the Leader of the House that when we last sat here and it was proposed to have this very long adjournment we protested and said that during September the Government's economic plans ought to be discussed in the Seanad. This was resisted by the Minister and by the Leader of the House. We now find ourselves meeting at this time of year to discuss matters which are, essentially, of their nature irrelevant and which in no way affect the really important matters before us, the whole question of the financial and economic condition of the country. We should be discussing other matters and I agree with Senator Lenihan that at the very least we should be discussing Motion No. 21.
May I say in relation to Senator Lenihan's question —and it must be quite clear to him that I would not be in a position to indicate today when particular motions would be taken—I suppose the day will come when Fianna Fáil will cease to play politics on the Order of Business in this House. It is a hope I express not all that confidently but perhaps it will happen some day. I am well aware that the motion to which Senator Lenihan referred has been on the Order Paper for some time and that the motion which we were due to discuss is only on it for a short while, but I do not think any serious-minded person would agree with the thesis that this House, and this country, are not faced with a situation of national emergency. It does no service to the State, to this House or to our parliamentary institutions to open references to this serious situation by describing it as "window dressing".
I was quoting the Minister for Justice in 1972.
I have no doubt that in the life of every State a time comes when its citizens must stand up and be counted. There are some who may not do that because of timidity, others because of mischievousness, others because of sheer bloodymindedness.
I would be glad if the Senator did not go further into the merits of the case than Senator Lenihan did in his remarks.
I will finish by saying if any of those caps fit let them be worn.
Order of Business agreed to.