The amendment is agreed subject to details to be confirmed.

Senator Mac Lochlainn has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kehoe, on the award of medals to veterans of the siege of Jadotville be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

I know the Leader is not available tomorrow morning. However, Senator Craughwell and I have repeatedly sought a meeting with the Minister of State and we wish to have that meeting. If the Leader can undertake to arrange that meeting for any time this evening-----

The Leader is currently in an impossible situation.

I appreciate that. I will not divide the House but I wanted to make that point clear.

For the information of Members, the staff of my office have liaised with the Minister of State's office to organise the meeting. To be fair to Senator McFadden and I, we have sought that meeting and spoken to the Minister of State about it-----

There is a different version to that told by the Senator.

I remind the Leader that we were promised a meeting after Easter. He knows we were promised that meeting.

The Senator has made his point.

I am going to take a leap of faith and accept that-----

I will put the question if he does not sit down.

-----on the basis of the assurance given by the Leader, the meeting will take place by tomorrow morning.

All right.

Can the Leader provide an assurance that the meeting will take place within the next 24 hours?

I will revert to the Minister of State's office to request that he meet Senators Mac Lochlainn, Wilson, McFadden and Craughwell and myself.

Within the next 24 hours.

I will ask for it to be held in the next 24 hours but I cannot give a commitment that it will be. I cannot govern the Minister of State's diary but I will endeavour to have-----

There has been enough debate on the issue. Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes.