With regard to Question No. 27, which referred to seizures by the sheriff in respect of unpaid Barrow drainage rates, the Minister for Agriculture has no direct responsibility in the matter, and is, therefore, not accountable to the Dáil in respect of the seizures.
Business of the Dáil.
If the Minister had not some responsibility, the question would not have been put to him and he should not have got up to reply.
The question was allowed by the Chair with some misgiving. The matter could not be raised on the Adjournment, as the Minister has no responsibility for collecting these rates in question, nor for the manner in which they are collected.
With all respect, nobody is referring to the rates. I am referring to agricultural machinery seized in respect of the rates and that is what I am going to raise on the Adjournment.
Permission is not granted.
I protest on behalf of my constituents.
The Deputy may not debate the matter now.
There will be no seizures because the people will not allow them and I will be one Deputy who will resist them.
The Deputy must resume his seat.
With all respect to you, I am raising this matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy will not do so.
I protest against the ruling given in this House——
The Deputy must resume his seat. There is only one method of challenging the ruling of the Chair, i.e., by way of motion. Otherwise, order could not be kept in the House. If the Deputy desires to remain here for the remainder of to-day's sitting, he had better resume his seat.
On a point of explanation——
There can be no further explanation.
With all respect, there is an explanation. The people who sent me here to fight their cause——
Order of business.
Allow me one moment.
The Chair has given the Deputy much latitude.
With all respect, can I explain to you——
The Chair is prejudiced against hearing my views. I was selected to fight against the seizures in my constituency and I will do it.
The Chair orders the Deputy to withdraw for the remainder of to-day's sitting.
That is what he wanted. Look at the smile on his face.
If I get you in Birr again, there will not be much of a smile on your face.
The Deputy will now withdraw.
I regret very much causing you any inconvenience but I protest in the strongest possible manner against the action taken by Ministers.
The Deputy withdrew.
Order of business.
It is proposed to take Nos. 2 and 4 on the Order Paper, item 4 to be interrupted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss a motion in the names of Deputies Keyes and Corish. This motion is No. 2 on list No. 2.