I wish to call for the adjournment of the Seanad to discuss a matter of public urgency and interest, namely, the placing of a concealed listening device in a house in which the Deputy Leader of the SDLP has been staying while in Dublin.
Business of Seanad.
I have given careful consideration to the matter raised by Senator Lanigan. I do not consider it to be a matter contemplated by Standing Order 29. I regret, therefore, that I have to rule it out of order.
I do not wish to challenge the ruling of the Cathaoirleach, but I think that in this House we are being treated like children. We are not allowed to bring up matters of public interest. We have been told that there is a means whereby we can bring to the attention of the Cathaoirleach matters which we consider should be discussed as a matter of urgency. If we try to raise a matter which is urgent and of grave public interest we are told we cannot raise it on the Adjournment because there is only half an hour for debate and in that time we would not be able to discuss the matter properly.
When we have gone through the proper procedure and presented to the Chair what we consider it to be, and which the public consider to be, a matter of grave urgency, I have to disagree with the ruling of the Cathaoirleach. There is nobody in this country, apart from the Cathaoirleach, who does not feel that this matter should be discussed.
That is very unfair.
I am speaking on the broad aspects of the case. We are speaking here about something which happened to a former Member of the House.
There is no urgency about the matter now. It has been going on since the month of November. Senator Lanigan knows that as well as I do.
It is a matter of urgency. We must look for the protection of the House for each and every one of us. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this was not an isolated incident, and we must find out——
I must ask the Senator to resume his seat. I have been fair to the Senator.
We cannot be sure that this is not happening in our own houses.
I will discuss it with the Senator at any time.