§ Captain OrrI beg to ask leave to present a Petition on behalf of the women of Ulster.
The Petition sheweth:
That the Province of Ulster has grievously suffered from a campaign of murder, arson and bombings throughout the last four years: that our lives and homes have been greatly affected and that the vast majority of Ulster people are adamant in their determination to remain citizens of the United Kingdom.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that hon. Members maintain and uphold the democratic right of the women of Ulster to remain British citizens; that the House take immediate measures to ensure peace with justice for everyman, woman and child in Northern Ireland and undertake the immediate restoration of democratic government in our Province.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever humbly pray.The Petition and its associated documents contain 83,000 signatures comprising women of all faiths and persuasions. They represent one-sixth of all the women of voting age in our Province. My colleagues, the Unionist Members representing constituencies in Northern Ireland 1164 many of whose constituents are among the Petitioners, support the Petition.I believe that the House will agree that the Petition is timely, and I pray that the plea it contains may be speedily heeded.
§ To lie upon the Table.