Before we suspend the sitting I have notice from Senator Brendan Ryan regarding a motion he wishes to move under Standing Order 29.
Request Under Standing Order 29.
I wish to move on a Motion on the Adjournment of the Seanad regarding a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, that is, the need for the Government to take urgent steps to express our outrage at the further attempts to suppress dissent in South Africa.
I have given careful consideration to the matter raised by Senator Ryan. I do not consider it a matter to be contemplated under Standing Order 29. Therefore, I regret that I have to rule it out of order.
I share your regret that we cannot discuss such an urgent and extremely important matter. I am standing up deliberately to say that so that I cannot be accused of doing it just for the press. I regret that because of the inadequacies of our procedures a matter of such importance cannot be discussed.
Sitting suspended at 5.10 p.m. and resumed at 6.30 p.m.