§ Mr. McMasterI beg to ask leave to to move the Adjournment of this House, under standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the riots and civil disorder, bombing and shooting in Northern Ireland over the past weekend".I submit that this matter is specific. The rioting specifically took place over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday night, ending with the bombing this morning in part of my constituency. It is urgent in that the shootings and attacks have been increasing markedly in ferocity and number over the past four or five weeks. It is growing more serious every day; we see, through television and elsewhere, that the tendency is for this to escalate rapidly into a situation which can only be described as one of civil war.There is no adequate parliamentary safety valve for the people of Northern 1007 Ireland. It is now two months since this matter was debated in the House and in a situation like this, when 17 battalions of British soldiers are involved, I submit that it would be totally wrong to go into the Whitsun Recess without an opportunity to debate this subject.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman gave me notice that he might seek to make this application. I have had the opportunity of considering it. As the House knows, this is simply a procedural matter for me as to whether I give the application precedence over the other business set down either for today or for tomorrow. I am afraid that I cannot grant the application.