There was a bit of a kerfuffle at the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday as Michael D. Higgins's motion on Australia was due for discussion. Last summer, the Labour deputy and others met a delegation of aborigines seeking international support for their cause. This week, he tabled a motion congratulating Australia on the anniversary of its constitution and urging recognition and respect for the aboriginal peoples. But, says Higgins, once the Australian embassy got wind of the motion, pressure was exerted, via Iveagh House, to get the matter dropped. It wasn't, but the meeting went into private session. Now Higgins has retabled the motion for public session and is inviting the ambassador to address the committee. "It is obvious that pressure was being exerted," he said. "It was hoped that I would withdraw the motion but it has backfired and now there is cross-party support for my position."