Bombing (Northern Ireland) (Hansard, 24 May 1993)

§ Mr. David Trimble (Upper Bann)
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 sequence of bombs in Northern Ireland over the weekend. I appreciate that it is normally the practice in the House not to have immediate statements or debates on specific terrorist incidents, because that amplifies the terror created by those incidents. However, we are dealing not with "a" specific incident, but with a quite alarming series of incidents, which perhaps marks a new phase in the terrorist campaign, and it has serious implications for people in Northern Ireland.
The incidents to which I refer are, first, the bomb on Thursday in Glengall street in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, South (Rev. Martin Smyth), which seriously damaged the opera house and other commercial premises, as well as the headquarters of the party.
On Saturday morning, a massive bomb containing more than 1,000 lb of explosive went off in the main street of Portadown in my constituency. That bomb may result in the demolition of nine or 10 major commercial premises. The explosion took place right in the centre of the town. The so-called warnings that accompanied the bomb were consistent with an attempt by the Provisional IRA to cause massive loss of life. Thankfully, that was avoided, thanks to the skill of the police, but no thanks to the terrorists. Substantial dislocation has occurred as a result of the bomb.
That was Saturday morning. On Saturday evening, a large bomb exploded at the Drumkeen hotel. In addition to damaging the hotel, the bomb damaged several private homes, some of which were just recovering from the last explosion a matter of months before. Lastly in the sequence, last night there was a massive bomb in the town of Magherafelt in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross). Again, it occurred in the town centre and caused massive disruption to commercial life.
The bombs obviously have security implications. In deference to your views, Madam Speaker, I shall not go into the security implications at this stage, except to say that a debate under Standing Order No. 20 would require Northern Ireland Office Ministers to come to the Dispatch Box and give some statement and some answer instead of their shameful silence, which demonstrates their ineptitude and incompetence.
The blockbuster bombs are part of the IRA's economic war. It has been estimated that the compensation bill will be about £20 million. The bombs will also affect the lives and livelihood of many small business men in the towns affected. For that reason, and because in recent months there has been a tendency among people at home to despair of the political process, I wish to have this urgent debate.

§ Madam Speaker
I have listened carefully to what the hon. Member has said. Of course, I have to give my decision without stating any reasons. I am afraid that I do not consider that the matter that he raised is appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Perhaps you could help Members from Northern Ireland. Over and over again, when atrocities have been committed and there has been no response from the relevant Ministers answerable in the House, we have attempted to use Standing Order No. 20 and the old Standing Order No. 10 to bring the matter to the attention of the House. Habitually, the applications have been turned down by various Speakers before you.
Could you help Northern Ireland Members to know what must happen, what atrocity must take place, how many people must be murdered and how many millions of pounds' worth of damage must be done before we can bring the matter before the House?

§ Madam Speaker
I understand the hon. Gentleman's real concern about the matter, which he has voiced for several years. As he appreciates, and, I know, understands, we do not discuss security matters across the Floor of the House.
May I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to two things? When we return from the recess on 8 June, there will be a debate on the emergency provisions Act. For an earlier opportunity to raise the matter, the hon. Gentleman can make an application to my office before 10 o'clock this evening for an Adjournment debate on Thursday this week.

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
A few years ago, it was common practice that terrorist atrocities, either here or in Northern Ireland, were the subject of either a statement or a private notice question. In the application for a Standing Order No. 20 debate today, we heard a plea from a member of one of the Northern Ireland parties which agreed a few years ago to stop the discussion of any private notice question or statements by Ministers. There was an agreement between the Government and the Opposition to be silent about such atrocities. Some of us disagreed with that at the time.
We cannot accept the idea that, when people are killed in terrorist attacks of whatever nature, the House cannot debate the matter. It is ironic that the demand for a Standing Order No. 20 debate has come from a member of a party which took part in the silencing. Despite the House being silent, terrorist activities have continued to take place both here and in Northern Ireland. So the silence has not served any useful purpose. It is time we got back to discussing such matters.

§ Madam Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is trying to prolong a discussion. This is not a point of order. I have already dealt with the matter in connection with the point of order earlier.