Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of related notices under Standing Order 31 from Deputies McManus and Jim Higgins. I propose to call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call on Deputy McManus to state the matter of which she has given notice to me.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific matter of public interest, namely, the release from custody of five persons charged with offences involving drugs worth in excess of £3 million, apparently as a result of procedural errors; the need for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to ensure that a full investigation is carried out into the circumstances of their release; and that appropriate steps are taken to ensure that such a blunder does not happen again.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to enable the House to debate the following urgent and important matter, namely, the release from custody by the Dublin District Court on Tuesday last of five persons connected with the recent high profile seizure of £3 million worth of cannabis on the basis that the accused had been unlawfully charged; the subsequent rearrest and charging of the individuals in question; the subsequent release of the five detainees yesterday on the basis that they had not been properly rearrested under section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act; and the urgent need for proper procedures to be applied to enable the individuals in question — three of whom remain at large — to be rearrested, charged and tried.
Having considered the matters fully I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 31 and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motions.