HC Deb 19 June 1979 vol 968 cc1117-8
Rev. Ian Paisley

I beg 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 spate of IRA bombings in Northern Ireland today and the killing of yet another member of the Ulster Defence Regiment". On Sunday last Mr. Gerry Adams, one of the leaders of the Provisional IRA, used the territory of the Republic to launch a call for the intensification of the war in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland today has experienced something of that intensification. A courageous member of the UDR, John Alan Hannigan, was brutally murdered on his way to work in the town of Omagh this morning. A carefully co-ordinated blitz of bombings took place across the Province from Ballycastle, in my constituency—where the Marine hotel was completely devastated—to Armagh, Rostrevor and Newry, and also in the centre of Belfast, where the Wellington Park hotel was the object of five explosive devices.

The people of Northern Ireland are very alarmed at the increase in IRA activity. I believe that it is the duty of this House immediately to consider the spate of bombings, the intensification of the IRA's campaign, and especially the terrible killings that have taken place in the last hours and days. It is the duty of the Government to put pressure on the Government of the Republic so that those who commit murders in the North of Ireland shall no longer have a safe refuge in the territory of the South.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) gave me notice this morning that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the spate of IRA bombings in Northern Ireland today and the killing of yet another member of the Ulster Defence Regiment". I listened with anxious care to the hon. Gentleman, as I know the House did. The House is aware that my powers are limited in this matter and that I do not decide whether it shall be discussed; I merely decide whether it should be discussed tonight or tomorrow.

Bearing that fact in mind, and remembering that under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the order but to give no reasons for my decision, I must tell the hon. Gentleman that I cannot rule that his submission falls within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.