I welcome the fact that at least we are having a debate this afternoon at 3 o'clock. I welcome that the Leader has arranged this debate and there will be a Minister present. I was told previously that we could not have a Minister present because the Government had not made a decision but here we are and we now have a Minister. There is a lot of toing and froing going on.

I would like to refer to the Order of Business yesterday, a Chathaoirligh, because it seems to be quite a serious matter. I want to clarify this for the record. I started off by saying, "I propose an amendment, that item No. 11 of non-Government motions, regarding Shane O'Farrell, be taken at the end of..." and I was continuing to say "the Order of Business" but I was interrupted as somebody asked - and this is not on the "blacks" but it is on the film - "what is this about?" and I said that it was about the illegal death of Shane O'Farrell. The Cathaoirleach then came in and said "After item No. 2". This took me aback. I thought "item No. 2" is probably some Government motion to be taken without debate. That is the only circumstance in which I have seen this kind of thing happen before. I continued: "Yes, after item No. 2." Subsequently, and this is crucial, a page or two later on, Senator Buttimer, the Leader, says "Can I ask a question before it goes to a vote? When does Senator Norris propose to have the motion put tonight?" and I very clearly said "Immediately after the Order of Business." So the whole question of item No. 2 came from the Chair. It did not come from me and it was not my intention and I clarified it, subsequently, that I wanted the motion taken immediately after the Order of Business. That is a fact. That is actually what happened yesterday. I did not-----

Yes.

Sure Senator Leyden was not here and cannot tell what Senator Norris did.

I did not-----

Excuse me, I was here.

Please.

The Leader can withdraw that now because I was here and I can prove I was here.

Do.

And it is on the record I was here-----

Can both of the Senators-----

I am well aware of Senator Norris's comments. Senator Norris is the most accomplished and the most experienced Member of this House.

Please, Senators.

I just want to say that I am not trying to attach blame to anybody in this circumstance.

You were like a jackass fly yesterday. If you just behaved yourself.

It was, I think, a genuine error and I do not know where it came out of. In everything I said I made it clear I wanted the motion to be taken "immediately after the Order of Business", and it is on the record where I said that before the vote was taken. I had not, ever, said I wanted it after No. 2. I simply parroted what the Chair said and it is inexplicable where that came from. I have never known it to happen before. When one proposes a change to the Order of Business it is to take something immediately after the Order of Business. I shall leave it at that.

I think it was unfortunate. I am not blaming anybody. I think it was just a question of confusion. I regret very much that it happened. I look forward to this evening's debate, which will be attended by Mrs. Lucia O'Farrell. It behoves all of us to be here to show respect to this family and to take part in the proceedings.

On a point of clarification-----

I think you will-----

-----I might have made a mistake when I read out the Order of Business. I have just got a message from-----

I will allow the Leader to clarify the matter.

Okay. That is fine.