I have received notice from Senator Norris of a motion he wishes to raise under Standing Order 30. I call on the Senator to state the matter of which he has given notice before I give my ruling on it.
Request to move Adjournment of Seanad under Standing Order 30
I seek the adjournment of the Seanad under Standing Order 30 to discuss a matter of public importance: the need for Seanad Éireann to discuss the terms of the IMF bailout, the involvement of the Oireachtas in its approval and democratic accountability to the people. A deal has been done over the heads of the people by a discredited Government, which has lost the support of the electorate, with unelected and unaccountable financial interests. I urge the Cathaoirleach to take into account the views of Dr. Krugman, the Nobel prize winning economist, who said: "These debts were incurred, not to pay for public programmes, but by private wheeler-dealers seeking nothing but their own profit."
Senator, please.
"Yet, ordinary Irish citizens are now bearing the burden of these debts——
Senator, please.
——or, to be more accurate, they are bearing a burden much larger than the debt because the spending cuts have caused a severe recession."
I will adjourn the House if the Senator does not resume his seat.
"So, in addition——
The Senator submitted the detail of the matter he wished to raise and has now——
——to taking on the banks' debts, the Irish are suffering from plunging incomes and high unemployment."
I will adjourn the House if the Senator does not resume his seat. I ask him to respect the Chair. What was submitted to me should have been stated, not the rant in which the Senator engaged.
I do not think it was a rant.
I have given careful consideration to the matter raised by the Senator and do not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 30. I regret, therefore, that I have to rule it out of order. Furthermore, there is an amendment to the Order of Business seeking a debate on the matter today.
It clearly demonstrates this House is a total farce. If it is not a matter of national importance, what on Earth is?
Will the Senator, please, resume his seat?
It is outrageous.
That is the Senator's opinion.
I seek an explanation of why you do not think it is not a matter of national urgency. I appeal to you to rethink or advise the House——
There is an amendment to the Order of Business.
——why it is not a matter of national urgency.
I ask the Senator to, please, resume his seat.
A Senator
Senator Norris is only seeking publicity.
We are in a really delicate situation.
Does the Senator want me to adjourn the House because of him?
I think the Cathaoirleach should adjourn House in order that he can reconsider his position because this is completely outrageous.
I call Senator Mullen on the Order of Business.
No wonder Senator O'Toole feels he has to withdraw——
That has nothing to do with this.
It is a complete and utter disgrace. It makes a farce of the Oireachtas.