Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 1986

Vol. 114 No. 16

Order of Business.

Mr. Ferris

It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in that order. It is proposed to adjourn for tea from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. and it is proposed to take No. 3 from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A Chathaoirligh, with reference to your ordering of the motion for the Adjournment, I want to bring it to your attention that there is an anxiety to try to get as much as possible of the Committee Stage of the Control of Clinical Trials Bill, 1986, completed today and so I propose to the House that, after Private Members'Business is completed at 8 o'clock or earlier, we might commit ourselves to another hour to try to make more progress on that Bill. There are quite a number of amendments and it is quite an important piece of legislation. I have had discussions with Senator Willie Ryan to try to reach agreement on this and the Minister is available so, if the House will agree, we could sit for possibly another hour after the normal adjournment time to make more progress on the Bill.

An Cathaoirleach

Does that suit Senator Brendan Ryan?

Mr. B. Ryan

Yes.

Mr. Lanigan

What business is it proposed to take tomorrow morning?

Mr. Ferris

It is proposed to take Items Nos. 4 and 5 in that order commencing at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow. The first item, No. 4, is a report of the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities: The Milk Cessation Scheme, and then we will deal with the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Co-operation with Developing Countries: Apartheid and Development in Southern Africa.

Mr. Lanigan

The Debate on the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Cooperation with Developing Countries is very important and I ask the Leader of the House to ensure that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be available to the House to take this motion. On the last occasion on which we discussed South Africa, and there was an all party motion down to discuss sanctions against South Africa, total discourtesy was shown to this House by a junior Minister. He came into this House and put his foot up on the ministerial seat, not alone in the presence of Members of the House, but in the presence of very important visitors from Southern Africa. I would not be satisfied if this debate were to take place in the presence of that junior Minister. The speech he made that day was a disgrace to the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am not sure if the Minister for Foreign Affairs is back from Egypt but, if he is not back, I would like this debate to be delayed until he is back. The matter is urgent and important. I would not be satisfied to have the debate taken by the junior Minister who was in the House on the day of the last debate.

Mr. B. Ryan

Hear, hear.

An Cathaoirleach

You have made your point.

Mr. Ferris

The first item we will take is the milk cessation scheme report. I am not sure how long that will take. From my information last week quite a number of Members of the House want to contribute to the debate on this very important joint committee report. I am not sure when we will reach Item No. 5 tomorrow but it has already been communicated to me from the Department of Foreign Affairs that it is intended that the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs will take it. I am not sure whether the Minister is back from his official trip to Egypt. However, I will contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and bring the points raised by Senator Lanigan to their attention. It is outside my control but I will certainly convey Senator Lanigan's comments to the Department.

Mrs. McGuinness

With regard to what Senator Ferris has just said, I appreciate that the milk cessation scheme motion is a very important matter and that it may very well be taken, but I am in absolute agreement with Senator Lanigan that the second motion is an extremely important one. I would be very concerned lest it be taken at a late hour tomorrow afternoon when, perhaps, there would not be a full attendance in the House and, apart from the fact that the Minister does not seem to be available, we might not get an opportunity to have as full a debate as we would like. I would like to be assured that, if it is taken late, further time will be allowed for it and, if the Minister cannot come tomorrow evening, he will come here at a later stage for further debate on this motion.

Mr. Robb

Could I just add my support to what Senator McGuinness has said? I lived in Soweto and I would like to speak on the motion. I cannot speak on it on a Thursday and, if it is at all possible to have it extended to another day, I would be very grateful.

An Cathaoirleach

I am sorry for the Minister who will be trying to accommodate everybody.

Mr. Ferris

It is my intention to accommodate everybody who wishes to speak. If Senator Robb and other Senators are not here for the completion of No. 5, if we take it, we will certainly postpone the final debate on it until the following week and then we will try to facilitate everybody. If the Minister for Foreign Affairs is not available for the earlier part of the discussion, I will try to ensure that he is here to reply to the debate.

Order of Business agreed to.