Before I call Senator Norris to speak on the Bill I have received notice from him regarding a motion which he wishes to move under Standing Order 29. I will take that now, if the Senator is agreeable. I now call on Senator Norris to give notice of the motion before I give my ruling.
Request under Standing Order 29.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I wish to move a motion for the Adjournment of the Seanad on a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, the matter being——
The need for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to raise with both the United Nations and the Iraqi Government the concern of the Irish people at the possibility of genocide arising from (1) the appointment of Mr. Ali Hassan al-Majid, the man responsible for orchestrating the mass murder by chemical weapons of the Kurdish population of the village of Halabja, and the man responsible as Governor of Kuwait for serious violations of human rights between August 1990 and February 1991 in Kuwait and now as Minister for the Interior in Iraq; (2) the sinister implications of the ordering out of Iraq of all foreign journalists for a period of ten days simultaneous with this appointment.
I believe that the process of genocide may now begin if a protest is not lodged internationally.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I have given careful consideration to the matter raised by Senator Norris. I cannot consider it to be a matter contemplated by Standing Order 29 and I regret, therefore, that I have to rule it out of order.
Thank you for your ruling, a Leas-Chathoirleach in which of course I concur. I will be placing this matter as a formal motion on the Order Paper.