It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper, Nos. 1 to 4. No. 4 will be interrupted for one hour from six to seven o'clock to resume discussion of No. 7.
Business of Dáil.
I desire as a matter of privilege, with your permission, to raise a question arising from a reference made last evening during the Transport Bill debate by the Minister for Industry and Commerce which has been held by many to be of an offensive character and not in keeping with the dignity of debates in this House. Is the word objected to to continue to be used as a Parliamentary expression in the House and will other Deputies be entitled to use it at their discretion or will it continue to be a Ministerial monopoly? It appears in the Press this morning.
If that question is to be raised either now or on the section of the Bill, I think it would be more satisfactory for the House if we could have the whole matter threshed out completely. We wound up a debate last night, in which we were dealing with rather important matters, with the Minister for Industry and Commerce calling Deputy Norton a "sucker" and calling Deputy McGilligan a "perjurer." I think the matter cannot stand at that.
A certain word was used with reference to Deputy Norton which, I understand, in America has one signification, but quite a different one here. I am not sure as to the sense it was used by the Minister, but, presumably, in the American sense. 'Twere better it were not used in any sense. As regards the exchange of interruptions between the Minister and Deputy McGilligan, they were both at fault. Deputy McGilligan's interruption was reprehensible; the Minister's, much more so. It is really too bad if the time of the House is to be wasted in getting a perfunctory "I withdraw" from present or former occupants of front benches. Such personalities do not help the conduct of business, the credit of this House or the credit of the nation. I hope such abusive epithets will now cease.
I hope the Minister for Justice will take a note of that.
I apologise to Deputy Norton for calling him a "sucker" and, in view of your observation, I should like to withdraw the statement made with reference to Deputy McGilligan.