I wish to put down a motion for the adjournment of the Seanad on a specified and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, the matter being as follows:

"In the light of continuing disquiet and concern with regard to the Birmingham Six, compounded by the most recent revelations, the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to undertake new initiatives to press on the British Government the necessity for a retrial in this case."

I am requesting time for a debate on this motion later this afternoon.

I have decided that the motion as moved is in order. May I ask the Senators who support the request to rise?

Senators rose.

As more than five Senators have risen, the debate on the motion will take place at the conclusion of business today.

I want to thank the Chair for the initiative he has taken in this matter.

Unfortunately, Senator Lynch's motion on the half hour adjournment cannot now be proceeded with. I am sorry about that.

I will abide by your ruling, Sir, but it was a very important matter concerning the Oldcastle Garda barracks. Work had commenced on this Garda barracks but for some reason the Board of Works stopped the contractor and I want to know what went wrong.

I would like to accommodate everybody but I cannot.

Could Senator Smith's motion be taken, say, at 3 p.m. or at any time other than when we adjourn and could Senator Lynch's motion then be taken?

It cannot be. I must take Senator Smith's motion because he is moving the Adjournment of the House and that takes precedence over Senator Lynch's motion. I would like to accommodate Senator Lynch, too, if I could, because he has the motion in for some time and he was ill and not able to be present. I would certainly like to accommodate him, but I cannot because of the rules.

I have no doubt that the Birmingham Six will appreciate the Oldcastle problem.