I gave you notice on Thursday, having had an opportunity of reading the Dáil Debates of the 27th February, that I felt I had a responsibility to raise here, in a very detached way, a matter of order that was then discussed in the House. I have no desire to discuss any aspect of the matter except that which was before the House at the time or any aspect of the ruling that was then given, but I feel, in the interest of all of us in the conduct of debate in the House, that I should ask you for a ruling as to whether it is in order during the proceedings of the House here for any member to use such expression as "It is a damned lie" or "The Deputy is telling lies" or "He is lying". I think you will appreciate that it would help us if we could have a firm ruling of order on that matter without any reference to anything that happened in the past.
Use of Word “Lie”—Ceann Comhairle's Ruling.
Deputy Mulcahy kindly gave me advance notice of his intention to raise this matter. While it is not usual for the Chair to give rulings in the abstract, I agree with him that circumstances warrant a restatement of the well-established rule of order relating to the expression in question and I thank him for affording me this opportunity for doing so.
Briefly, the rule is, that no member may impute deliberate falsehood to another member. Members are presumed to make themselves responsible for their utterances in this House, therefore, to describe any such utterances as "a lie" is to accuse the member concerned of deliberate falsehood.
I am of opinion that the rule is well-founded and that its enforcement is essential if orderliness in debate is to be maintained and the dignity of the House preserved. In so stating my opinion I am not to be taken as making any comment on the incident which gave rise to the Deputy's point. I propose merely to restate the position in answer to the Deputy's request.
May I take it then that this ruling will cover all uses of the term?
I know that fine distinctions may be drawn, but I think the word "lie" should not be used at all in this House.