It is intended that we take Items Nos. 1 and 2 today and that we take Item No. 2 from 6.30 to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, I would like to refer to Item No. 41, which stands on the Order Paper in the names of a number of Fine Gael Senators. Arising out of recent libel awards in the courts, there is genuine concern about the uncertainty of the Irish libel laws. I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he could see his way to having the motion debated at the beginning of a major public debate on this subject. I believe there is an urgent need to ensure that there is clarity in this particular matter.
This does not specifically deal with the Order of Business but it is in connection with it. Could I raise a matter for about one minute? If we are moving into the original Seanad Chamber in the near future is provision being made for translation from Irish to English?
That is a matter for the Committee of Procedure and Privileges. There is a meeting of that committee this evening and I will raise the matter then.
Further to that, could I say in protest, as a person from the Gaeltacht, that I find it impossible in this House to get a person to type a letter for me in Irish. I have been here almost two years and I just cannot get anybody to type a letter for me in Irish or do any business in Irish.
Ba mhaith liom i dtús báire tacaíocht a thabhairt don Seanadóir Ó Conchubhair. The Senator and I are on the Joint Committee on the Irish Language. The Senator is perfectly right, in my view, and I formally support him in asking you to ensure that simultaneous translation facilities are available in the renovated Chamber. It is, of course, an appalling reflection on the Houses of the Oireachtas that a Member of this House from the Gaeltacht cannot find somebody who can do that sort of work in Irish. Tréaslaím dó gur ardaigh sé an cheist agus tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh toradh as go tapaidh.
In the light of what has been reported in the news media, I request the Leader of the House to consider a change in the Order of Business today to discuss Item No. 26, which is a motion concerning the state or the absence of human rights in Iran. We have had the frightening spectacle of a head of state calling for the execution of an individual because of a book he wrote. A considerable amount of fire in this House has been directed against other régimes who have quite legitimately been criticised for things they have done.
Senator, we have to get it included first before you discuss it.
I was endeavouring, subject obviously to the Chair's guidance, to explain to the House why I think Item No. 26 now assumes considerable urgency. The point is made that things were said yesterday which frightened all of us, and most of us are not easily frightened. I ask the Leader of the House, and I formally propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that Item No. 26 should be taken for an hour and a half today. I formally propose it on the possibility that the Leader of the House will not accede to my request. Therefore, I want to have it on record that I would like it to be done.
The second matter I wish to raise is to ask the party opposite if there is any possibility that they would change their mind about the Bill I endeavoured to introduce last week, given the reports today of the extraordinary conflict of interests that has arisen about the Chairman of the Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies——
The Senator cannot raise this now. We want today's Order of Business cleared.
Would you not agree that the matter raises very serious questions of parliamentary ethics which would have been disposed of——
It is not a matter for me to say whether I agree with the Senator or not.
May I, through you, request the party opposite, who sat on their hands and did not consider this issue last week, to reconsider their position in the light of recent revelations?
I think you let him get away with murder.
I wish, first and finally, to second Senator Ryan's proposed amendment to the Order of Business, that Item No. 26 be taken today. In seconding it, I should like to say that——
All you have to do is second it; you do not have to say anything.
I am not going to make a long speech. I simply want to say that our attitude to Iran is hypocritical. We should have a statement from the Government, who allow an embassy to exist here——
You have seconded Senator Brendan Ryan. That is all you need to do. I ask the Senator to resume his seat.
I want to make a statement on Iran and on why we tolerate an Iranian Embassy here.
It is not intended that we change the Order of Business today. The Order of Business will go ahead as ordered.
On the question of Item No. 41 raised by Senator Manning, I will endeavour to have a debate on that in the near future. On the matters raised by Senator Nioclás Ó Conchubhair, these are not matters for me; they are matters for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and for those who regulate the organisation of the House. I do not intend that Item No. 26 will be taken today. The Order of Business is as proposed.
Senator B. Ryan has moved an amendment to the Order of Business, that Item No. 26 be added, and that has been seconded.
The question is: "That Item No. 26 be taken today."
Vótáil.
Will Senators who are claiming a division on the Order of Business please rise?
Five or more Senators stood.
The division will proceed.
Question put.
The Seanad divided: Tá, 18; Níl 25.
Tá
- Bradford, Paul.
- Connor, John.
- Doyle, Joe.
- Fennell, Nuala.
- Ferris, Michael.
- Harte, John.
- Hogan, Philip.
- Kelleher, Peter.
- Kennedy, Patrick.
- McCormack, Padraic.
- McMahon, Larry.
- Manning, Maurice.
- Murphy, John A.
- O'Shea, Brian.
- O'Toole, Joe.
- Reynolds, Gerry.
- Ross, Shane P.N.
- Ryan, Brendan.
Níl
- Bohan, Edward Joseph.
- Bromell, John A. (Tony)
- Byrne, Seán.
- Cassidy, Donie.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Doherty, Michael.
- Fallon, Seán.
- Farrell, Willie.
- Fitzgerald, Tom.
- Fitzsimons, Jack.
- Hanafin, Des.
- Haughey, Seán F.
- Hillery, Brian.
- Hussey, Thomas.
- Lanigan, Mick.
- Lydon, Donal.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Mullooly, Brian.
- Mulroy, Jimmy.
- O'Callaghan, Vivian.
- ÓConchubhair, Nioclás.
- O'Toole, Martin J.
- Ryan, William.
- Wallace, Mary.
Tellers: Tá, Senators B. Ryan and Ross; Níl, Senators W. Ryan and S. Haughey.
Question declared lost.
Order of Business agreed to.