HC Deb 16 April 1980 vol 982 cc1217-8
Mr. McCusker

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 deteriorating security situation in Northern Ireland, which has resulted during the past week in the deaths of three members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and £1 million-worth of damage caused yesterday by a Province-wide bomb blitz. Earlier this week the House was given the details of the deaths and injuries suffered by the police as a result of Provisional IRA activity during the past 10 days. I shall not bore the House by repeating the details of their deaths, but simply remind hon. Members present that another three gallant young men, aged 24, 33 and 43, are dead and an equal number of their colleagues are seriously injured.

Since then the terrorists have again demonstrated their capacity to strike at the community by bomb as well as bullet. Yesterday, in a well co-ordinated Province-wide bomb blitz, in a space of 19 minutes they totally destroyed three hotels, at a cost of at least £1 million, and in the process probably added another 100 people to the dole queue. We must be thankful that no one was killed, although a number of people were injured. In those bombings almost 1000 lb of explosives were used.

In Strabane there was the further sinister element of the Provisional IRA again being able to commandeer a house, hold the family prisoner overnight and use the family's car to carry out its mission. While that was happening the person responsible for security in the Province was in Dublin talking to the Republic's Government. Many people in Northern Ireland, including me, feel that he could have been better employed elsewhere.

There has been a serious deterioration in security in Northern Ireland during the past week. In my own constituency, four more men have been murdered. I resent the fact that Dublin politicians, some of whom are not without guilt with regard to the situation in Northern Ireland, should ever have the opportunity to discuss these matters, let alone to discuss them before Members of this House, and particularly before Members from Northern Ireland.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman gave me notice this morning, before 12 o'clock, 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 thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the deteriorating security situation in Northern Ireland, which has resulted during the past week in the deaths of three members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and £1 million-worth of damage caused yesterday by a Province-wide bomb blitz. The hon. Gentleman has brought our attention to the continuing grievous position in Northern Ireland. The House has listened with deep concern to what he has said.

The House has advised me that when I give my ruling I should not give the reasons for my decision, but I tell the hon. Gentleman in passing that he is aware, and the House is aware, that I do not decide whether the subject shall be debated. I say that for the benefit of people outside the House as well. I decide merely whether there should be an emergency debate tonight or tomorrow.

After listening to the hon. Gentleman with anxious concern, I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.