The Order of Business is Item No. 3 on the Order Paper. In this regard it is proposed that 20 minutes be allowed for the opening speech of each group, 15 minutes for other Senators and the debate to conclude not later than 4 p.m. It is also proposed to take a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Order of Business.
I should like to draw your attention, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, to the fact that the six seats allocated to University Senators have been mysteriously reduced by one.
It is only a start.
Unless this matter is attended to one of us will have to decamp to the party benches. More seriously, I think the House should deplore the industrial strife at Aras an Uachtaráin and express its sympathy with the workers involved.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
I should like to echo the remarks which Professor Murphy made about the seat. I do not necessarily echo the remarks he made about Aras an Uachtaráin but I should like to appeal from the Independent benches to the President to reconsider the decision to dismiss these people.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
Some time ago I think we in this House unanimously passed a motion congratulating the President. All of us feel great pride in the fact that the President came from this House and, therefore, I think it is appropriate that we should appeal to her to reconsider that decision——
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
As spokesperson on labour matters for the Fine Gael group I would like to express our concern about the industrial dispute and express our hope that it can be resolved in a satisfactory manner.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I have already ruled that matter out of order.
I know we are about to have a major foreign affairs debate today and, as I said yesterday, we are grateful to the Leader of the House for making time available for it. However, I, and I think many other Members, are concerned about developments in the Baltic states which to a great extent are being obscured by what is happening in the Gulf. We have a particular affinity with the Baltic states and all of us would like to see moves towards full independence and democracy there. I ask the Leader if in the very near future he will make some time available for a debate on developments in the Baltic states.
I suggest to the Leader that perhaps we need not take a break for lunch. This would accommodate four more speakers and I imagine many persons wish to speak today.
I am very glad Senator Manning raised the question of what is happening in the Baltic states. He is, of course, right that advantage is being taken of people not just in the Baltic states but in a number of unpleasant places around the world. The trials are beginning in Bejing today of the brave people who fought for democracy and were massacred in their thousands two years ago. That great ally of freedom in the Gulf is about to prosecute those who stood for democracy in Bejing with the benevolent indifference of the western world which is busily defending so-called freedoms in the Gulf. We should discuss these abuses of human rights in all of the allied countries, including Syria, which has massacred God knows how many people and invaded——
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I have to ask the Senator to ask a question. He cannot make a speech.
I agree with Senator Manning that we should broaden our view and realise that because of the appalling happenings in one part of the world other people are doing awful things in other parts. We should keep our vision wide and I ask the Leader to allow all these issues to be raised at appropriate times in this House because dreadful things are being done in many parts of the world.
I should like to ask the Leader of the House if he will make time available next week to debate Item No. 7 on the supplementary Order Paper, which was put down by the Progressive Democrats, which calls on Seanad Éireann to condemn the decision of Dublin Corporation to allow Sinn Féin to use the Mansion House for their Ard Fheis.
I do not propose to comment on what the first three speakers, Senators John A. Murphy, Ross and O'Reilly had to say except to mention that it seems that it was a party political broadcast on behalf of Mná na hÉireann. Senator Manning asked for a debate on the difficulties in the Baltic states. That is something I will consider but I cannot give any guarantee in that respect for the very near future. Obviously I will consider it for the month of February. In reply to Senator Hourigan, it is traditional to have a break when we are sitting all day, and I intend that we have a sos today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., as has been agreed.
Senator Ryan, too, asked about having a debate on the Baltic states, and I have given my reply in that regard. Senator Neville asked that item No. 7 be taken next week. We will not be sitting next week as Wednesday is budget day, and there is a long tradition in this House that we do not sit on budget day.
On a point of clarification, we have not set any time at which the debate will end. Does that mean that everybody will have a chance to speak?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The debate is to conclude at 4 p.m.
Order of Business agreed to.