HC Deb 21 March 1983 vol 39 cc547-8 3.54 pm
Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)

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 move in the American Senate by Senator Kennedy and his supporters to pressurise Her Majesty's Government to push Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom into a United Ireland". This matter is specific and important and deserves urgent consideration because, first, it is an example of arrogant interference in the internal affairs of this United Kingdom. Senator Kennedy and the United States Senate would be better employed seeking to resolve the many and grave difficulties faced by the United States, both domestic and international, than interfering in the affairs of this kingdom.

Secondly, this is an example of dangerous interference because it strikes at the citizenship of more than 1 million United Kingdom subjects and gives great encouragement to those who, by bullet and bomb, are seeking to destroy them. Nothing could help the IRA more than the resolution moved by Senator Kennedy. Senator Kennedy states that he is impatient with the British Government and the Unionists of Ulster because they will not capitulate immediately to an all-Ireland settlement. What right has he to talk about impatience, when the vast majority of people who have been slaughtered—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must not make the speech that he would make if I granted his application. He must confine himself to justifying why we should have an emergency debate.

Rev. Ian Paisley

That, Mr. Speaker, is what I am trying to do by my second point. May I briefly say that the people of Northern Ireland are impatient of a man of the reputation of Senator Kennedy and the infamy of Martha's Vineyard—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That has nothing to do with the hon. Gentleman's application, and he must confine himself to the application.

Rev. Ian Paisley

I trust that I can bring my remarks to a conclusion by saying that I hope that the Senator will cast the beam out of his own eye before seeking to cast the mote out of Ulster's eye. When he does that, I hope that he will have a long period of eye treatment.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman gave me notice before 12 o'clock midday that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 to discuss a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the move in the American Senate by Senator Kennedy and his supporters to pressurise Her Majesty's Government to push Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom into a United Ireland". As the House knows, 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 listened carefully to the hon. Gentleman's represenations, but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.