David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that at least we are having a debate this afternoon at 3 o'clock. I welcome that the Leader has arranged this debate and there will be a Minister present. I was told previously that we could not have a Minister present because the Government had not made a decision but here we are and we now have a Minister. There is a lot of toing and froing going on.

I would like to refer to the Order of Business yesterday, a Chathaoirligh, because it seems to be quite a serious matter. I want to clarify this for the record. I started off by saying, "I propose an amendment, that item No. 11 of non-Government motions, regarding Shane O'Farrell, be taken at the end of..." and I was continuing to say "the Order of Business" but I was interrupted as somebody asked - and this is not on the "blacks" but it is on the film - "what is this about?" and I said that it was about the illegal death of Shane O'Farrell. The Cathaoirleach then came in and said "After item No. 2". This took me aback. I thought "item No. 2" is probably some Government motion to be taken without debate. That is the only circumstance in which I have seen this kind of thing happen before. I continued:"Yes, after item No. 2." Subsequently, and this is crucial, a page or two later on, Senator Buttimer, the Leader, says "Can I ask a question before it goes to a vote? When does Senator Norris propose to have the motion put tonight?" and I very clearly said "Immediately after the Order of Business.". So the whole question of item No. 2 came from the Chair. It did not come from me and it was not my intention and I clarified it, subsequently, that I wanted the motion taken immediately after the Order of Business. That is a fact. That is actually what happened yesterday. I did not-----