It is intended to take Items Nos. 1, 2 and 3 today. It may be that we may not get to Item No. 3 but it is intended that we complete both Committee and Report Stages of Item No. 1 today, that we go ahead with Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill and that the matter requested under Standing Order 29 be taken on the completion of business today.
Order of Business.
While I support the request made under Standing Order 29 I would have hoped that the Leader of the House could, by agreement, have arranged for an earlier time today to debate this most important Motion. Eight o'clock is late this evening and I would suggest that perhaps the Whips might get together after the Order of Business to see if that debate could be held at an earlier time in view of the gravity of the issues concerned.
I agree totally. First, a Chathaoirligh, I thank you very much for allowing this. I think it is a very sensible and mature decision that the Seanad should debate matters of public importance. I would agree with Senator Manning, not out of self-interest but because I think it would be more helpful for the House, if this was allowed as soon as possible, maybe 3.30 p.m. or 4.30 p.m., and the other business which is more routine be put back. I would like to ask the Leader of the House a question on Item No. 19, which I also asked about last week — this is the abolition of hanging. He said he would convey what I said to the Government. I would like to ask him who he spoke to in the Government about this and what response he got.
On the Order of Business, as an individual I would like to oppose this abuse of the Standing Order — every day coming in with sensational motions. I want to plead on behalf of the people — and I am nearer to those who are affected in the North than anybody who is looking for sensational coverage here — against those people using statements like the "collapse in the arrangements" between the North and South. There is no such collapse, I beg to state. The one thing which the people in the North do not want is sensationalism. They have had a bellyful of kite-flyers, of sensationalists and those who are jumping on bandwagons. With your indulgence, a Chathaoirligh, I would ask this House in an orderly fashion to discuss the North when it comes up. The impression is given to those who are living in the North that there is a reluctance on the part of this House to discuss something that is fundamental.
On a point of order, the only reason this House has not discussed Northern Ireland is that the Government side are refusing to do so.
On a point of order, the decision has been made——
May I take this opportunity to congratulate the Irish team on their magnificent performance in Germany last Sunday and to congratulate their team manager, Jack Charlton? I would also like to extend my congraulations to our supporters who have done us proud in the past few days.
Senators
Hear, hear.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Augustinian girls and boys choir from Drogheda who represented Ireland at the opening of the European championships. They were great ambassadors for the country.
Senators
Hear, hear.
On the question of the time for the debate under Standing Order No. 29, we will complete the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Bill, 1988, today and that will be done before we can take the motion under Standing Order No. 29. The Whips can meet during the time the Bill is being taken and we can decide then what time the motion can be taken. I do not imagine it will take place before 8 p.m. this evening.
We can have the statements during the day but the debate requested under Standing Order No. 29 has to be at the end of the day.
Order of Business agreed to.