I have had notice from Senator Shane Ross regarding a motion which he wishes to move under Standing Order 29. I now call on Senator Ross.
Request under Standing Order 29.
I wish to move a motion for the Adjournment of the Seanad on a specified and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, the matter being the deepening crisis in the public finances as evidenced by last week's disastrous Exchequer return figures and the consequent immediate withdrawal of investors' confidence in the economy of the State.
I move this motion partly because the Dáil, for its own reasons, is in recess. This is the only forum of the Oireachtas in which this motion can be moved and the crisis in the finances of the State can be discussed.
I ask the Senator to resume his seat.
I will. Before I do so I would like to say that the lack of confidence in the Government has been, without any doubt, demonstrated by the refusal of investors to lend Government money in the last week as a result of these figures. As a result of these figures, the budget deficit and the crisis in the economy, nobody will lend money to the Government.
I have to ask the Senator to resume his seat.
I want to make a point of order.
There is no point of order on this motion.
You have accepted under this rule certain motions——
I have given careful consideration to the matter raised by Senator Ross and 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.
On a point of order, I ask you to reconsider it because you have accepted motions of less significance under this Standing Order this year on Sellafield, on the bombing of Lybia and on the agricultural crisis. The public finances are in such a state of crisis that you might advise me how I can raise it in the Seanad and how the Seanad can debate it.
You can put down a motion in the ordinary way. I will discuss it with the Senator after I leave the House.
It will be debated some time next year in relation to the International Monetary Fund.