HC Deb 09 November 1987 vol 122 c36 4.44 pm
Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the increase of IRA terrorism in Ulster and the massacre at Enniskillen yesterday. I know, Mr. Speaker, that I must not argue the case, but simply establish to the House that an important and specific matter should have its consideration, but I want to give the House some facts to establish that. In Northern Ireland there were 47 murders in 1984, in 1985 there were 86, and this year—I hope that all hon. Members will listen carefully—there have been 79 deaths. Two thirds of the deaths of which the Army was accused were resolved in the courts in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Of the 22 deaths of which Protestants were accused, 11 were resolved. Of the 169 of which the IRA was accused, only 14 have been resolved. Those figures speak for themselves.

The House would do well to hold a proper debate on this matter so that the views of hon. Members representing Northern Ireland constituencies, and those of all hon. Members, could be heard. I trust that if you. Mr. Speaker, cannot see your way to accepting what I propose today, we may have a proper, full-scale debate on this urgent matter at a future time.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the increase of IRA terrorism in Ulster and the massacre in Enniskillen yesterday. I have listened with great concern to what the hon. Gentleman had to say and, indeed, to Question Time, which has now continued for well over an hour. As the hon. Gentleman — and the House — knows, my only consideration when looking at a Standing Order No. 20 application is to see whether it meets the criteria laid down in the Standing Orders. I regret that I cannot find the matter appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20, and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.