I have had notice from Senator Michael Smith regarding a motion which he wishes to move under Standing Order 29. I now call on Senator Smith. I might mention at this stage that Senator Ferris had mentioned the same type of motion to me some day last week.
Request under Standing Order 29.
I wish to move a motion for the Adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 29 on a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, the disastrous consequences on Irish agriculture of the agricultural price package as agreed by the Minister for Agriculture in Luxembourg and the urgent need for the Government to demand a special meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers to review the farm price package. I would appeal for time to be made available.
I have decided that the motion is one covered by the Standing Order and I ask the Senators who support the request to rise in their places.
More than five Members rose in their places.
I understand that the intention is that the Seanad will sit not later than 10 p.m. this evening. Since the maximum of one hour and a half is allotted to the Adjournment Debate under Standing Orders the debate will therefore, take place at 8.30 p.m. or at the conclusion of the business ordered, whichever is the earlier.
I also have notice of two matters on the half hour adjournment from Senator Mark Killilea concerning the Letterfrack — Tullycross group water scheme and from Senator Helena McAuliffe-Ennis concerning the civil legal aid and advice scheme.
In view of my acceptance of the motion raised by Senator Michael Smith, a matter on the half hour adjournment cannot be taken today. Senators Killilea and McAuliffe-Ennis may give notice for another day of the matters they wish to raise.
This is a motion on the Adjournment which I have requested for some time. It concerns the decision by the Office of Public Works to prevent a group water scheme in Letterfrack and Tullycross in Connemara because, they say, it would upset rare heather. I am as upset about it as the people in the community who——
The Senator is not entitled to develop the point.
I have tried to ask the Office of Public Works to rescind their decision and I have failed. It is appropriate to raise the matter here.
Unless something unforeseen occurs, it will be taken tomorrow.
I would like to make my case for the matter which I have raised because, while I understand that Senator Killilea's matter is, no doubt, of great importance, the matter I raised is of extreme importance to thousands of people who have been left in a very bad situation because the means test with regard to civil legal aid has not been changed for a number of years, in fact since 1981.
As was the position with Senator Killilea, the Senator cannot make her case now.
I was making a point.
I know that, but my position is that as motions come in I take them. Senator Killilea's was in the week before last. Unless there is an agreement between Senator Killilea and yourself, one of you can get the adjournment tomorrow afternoon, if nothing unforeseen happens.