Request to Move Adjournment of Seanad under Standing Order 29

Request to Move Adjournment of Seanad under
Standing Order 29.

30th November 2005

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: I have notice from
Senator Norris regarding a motion he wishes to
raise under Standing Order 29. I call Senator
Norris to give notice of the motion before I give
my ruling.
Mr. Norris: I request that the House be
adjourned under the terms of Standing Order 29
to debate the need for the Government to take
immediate steps to resolve the dangerous and
confrontational situation between Irish Ferries
and its shipboard employees as it is a matter of
urgent national importance. We have witnessed
the entrance of hired thugs on to the ship in question
and the maintenance of a vigil by the crew
on board the ship. Attempts to register the ship
under a different flag have also been made. This
issue has been ruled a matter of national importance
in the other House.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: I have given careful
consideration to the matter raised by Senator
Norris, which I do not consider to be contemplated
by Standing Order 29. I regret, therefore,
that I have had to rule it out of order.
Mr. Norris: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach
for his ruling but it makes a farce of the business
of the House and the Standing Orders. It is ludicrous
that a matter can be considered a national
emergency in the other House but not in this
House. The idea that careful consideration is
being given to the matter is nonsense. A similar
situation arose previously when I raised a matter
and was informed that it was not a matter of
national importance. Thirty minutes later, the
then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, stated in the
other House that it was a matter of national
importance. Could an inquiry be held into the
space-time continuum as it affects Seanad
Eireann.
ireann and Da´ il E´ ireann because they appear to
operate on two different planets?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: The Standing Orders
in Seanad E´ ireann differ from those in Da´ il
E´
ireann. A recent amendment to Standing Order
29 means that a matter can only be raised under
the Standing Order if it has arisen suddenly. The
matter to which Senator Norris refers arose last
week and can be raised in different ways other
than Standing Order 29.