I have notice from Senator Costello regarding a motion which he wishes to move under Standing Order 29. I now call on Senator Costello to give notice of the motion before I give my ruling.
Request under Standing Order 29.
I wish to move the following motion under Standing Order 29:
That Seanad Éireann expresses its concern that in recent times many Irish citizens charged with political offences have not received fair trials in the British courts of law, that the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act is the most appropriate means of dealing with such offences, that where extradition proceedings are undertaken a prima facie case should first be presented and sustained in an Irish court and that extradition should not take place until all available avenues of appeal are processed including application to the European Commission and the European Court of Human Rights.
I am raising this matter as one of specific and great urgency because of recent developments in relation to a Finglas man, Dessie Ellis, who has been on hunger strike for some 36 days and has just been extradited to Britain. It is in that context that I feel we should have the opportunity of debating this issue in this House.
I have given careful consideration to the matter raised by Senator Costello. I cannot consider it to be a matter contemplated by Standing Order 29. I therefore regret that I have to rule it out of order.