'It is,' said the Speaker of the House of Commons, 'a House'.
The members of the Commons didn't appear to share that view when, last Wednesday, the British Parliament debated the North of Ireland, and the Tory paper on the same. Less then 60 MPs turned up. In that, and in many other ways, the event was another exercise in British irresponsibility.
Those who did make an appearance were the familar faces on the Irish scene: Secretary of State Humphrey Atkins, Labour spokesperson Brynmor John, Ian Paisley, James Molyneaux, the leader of the Official Unionists, and a few others.
Conspicious by their abscence were Tony Benn, Eric Heffer and the rest of the fearless leaders of the Labour Left. The most enthralling offering •from Peter Shore. He didn't say anything but it was fascinating to watch him alternate between falling asleep and then waking up and picking his nose.
The other star of the show was Ted Heath, although he didn't utter a word either. He sat on the front row like a deposed monarch with his belly sticking out. That and his marvellous tan made him look wise and noble.
His wisdom was praised enthusiastically by Gerry Fitt another fallen leader who resigned for the whole Government's white Gerry Fitt, had.
from the Labour benches came.
90 per native. from the Social Democratic and Labour Party because he thought the party was too critical of the talks convened by the Tory proposals. Said Fitt of Heath: 'He showed great courage in trying to bring us together in the Sunningdale agreement'.
Such rubbish is exactly the sort of Uncle Paddy arse-licking the British parliament likes to receive, but then Fitt spoiled the effect by droning on for 44 minutes, which more or less killed off any potential interest the debate had Before Fitt came lan Paisley, speaking with a confidence born out of the knowledge that 'option two' of the Tory proposals, the one obviously cent ed bytht he wanted. He comof what he wanted. gratulated Atkins on 'a very strong statement on the maintenance of the Union. He went on to make it clear that the first, power-sharing option in the white paper 'is not on'. Vowed Paisley, 'I will not discuss it'.
James Molyneaux also dismissed that alter"A rehash of failed experiments... a monstrosity... crazy' were some of the descriptions he used. The rest of his speech was a thinly veiled attack on Paisley for being too soft on Atkins which produced cynically Paisley's direction. the Government. 'Ulster leaders have been used,' said Molyneaux, As for the big guns it was at times difficult to distinguish between Atkins and his supporter from the Labour Party, Brynmor John. Atkins talked about cross-border cooperation with the comment, 'purism is an obvious example.' cooperation in the tourist field'.
Atkins told
instransigence'.
These committees, then elect their chairperson, looking in talk about'.
nothing better to do.
'the people of Northern Ireland... not to miss this opportunity'; John called on 'the leaders of Ulster' to 'shed their Atkins said any debate Ireland 'must take place in the real world'; John assured him 'this debate is not taking place in a university seminar but in a rea Atkins insisted 'It is not easy to see an acceptable solution lying outside the framework devised by the Government'; John spoke of his 'hopes for the Government's proposals. And so they went on, Tweedledum, Tweedledee.
The best laugh came from Enoch Powell This was in the middle of Atkin's description of his proposal for the new Assembly to have com. mittees made up equally of those who supported the executive and those who did not.
explained Atkins, would Powell interrupted by pointing out the dif ficulties in electing such a chairperson 'if the two sides in the committee were equally divided and both had their own cadidates'. A flustered Atkins replied, 'Eh.. that's something we must Powell roared with laughter, Atkins went red in the face and exclaimed, The honourable member should not laugh'. But there seemed