HC Deb 13 March 1972 vol 833 cc35-8
Mr. McManus

On a point of order. I have already given you notice, Mr. Speaker, of my intention to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the peace proposals of the I.R.A. This is a specific matter because the demands are clear and unmistakable. They are: the immediate withdrawal off the streets of British troops; a declaration by the British Government that troops will eventually be withdrawn; a declaration of intent that the Irish people have the right to determine their own future without outside interference; the unconditional end of internment; absolute political amnesty; and the abolition of Stormont.

This is an important matter not only because these demands indicate that the I.R.A. desires peace and justice and not only because the I.R.A. has demonstrated that it has absolute control of its own forces—the North has had the quietest weekend for years—but mainly because these are the demands not just of the I.R.A. With a few variations here and there, these are the basic demands of the entire anti-Unionist population of the North of Ireland. From that population now comes one united clear and unambiguous voice saying that these are the basic demands of that population. The Government have no excuse for saying that they are confused or uncertain about the demands. The position is crystal clear.

The matter is urgent. It could not be more urgent, for two reasons. At midnight tonight the three-day truce ends, and unless there is a positive response from the Government we may assume that violence will recommence. If that happens, all the world will see more clearly than ever before that responsibility for the violence rests where it has always rested—on the shoulders of this Government.

Finally, it is a most urgent matter, because if the initiative that the Government propose to take, already seven months too late, does not meet those basic demands and contains only a few paltry concessions, the unanimous, united and unambiguous answer from the minority will be, "No".

Rev. Ian Paisley

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

No point of order can arise at this moment.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. McManus) for giving me notice of his intention to make his application to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which should have urgent consideration, namely, the peace proposals of the I.R.A.". My ruling bears no relation to and is no comment on the merits or otherwise of the application. I have to rule simply whether I should give the application precedence over other business. I am not prepared to give it such precedence.

Rev. Ian Paisley

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Ought not the House to be aware that, far from the weekend in Belfast being quiet, there were burnings and robberies and a Roman Catholic woman was shot dead by terrorists?

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not a matter of order for me under the Standing Orders of the House.