It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 5, 6, 2, 7, 8, 9, 3, 10 and 11. If not already reached, it is proposed to interrupt business at 6.30 to take No. 3. Public business will be interrupted at 9 p.m. to take Private Deputies' business.
Order of Business.
I want to raise a point of order. While questions were being answered, the Minister for Agriculture made use of an expression in relation to Deputies on this side of the House which appears to be offensive and which, I submit, is unparliamentary. He referred to Deputies on this side of the House as "Jew baiters." I would ask the Chair whether it is parliamentary for him to use that expression and, if not, require him to withdraw it.
What have you been doing all evening?
Ask Deputy Flanagan what the purpose of his question was?
I would have dealt with the remark, if I had heard it. I did not hear it.
We heard that before. You heard it the same as we did.
Chair!
Deputy Flanagan is saying that I am telling a lie to the House.
I certainly would be the last Deputy in the House to say that. I distinctly heard it, as did every Deputy on this side of the House.
I said that if I heard the expression, I would have intervened. Deputy Flanagan says I heard the expression.
I heard it. Do you doubt we heard it?
Does Deputy Flanagan withdraw the statement?
I take your word for it, a Cheann Comhairle.
This National Parliament must be ruled according to some set procedure. The basis of discussion is that every Deputy says what he believes to be true. I have the honour to be the Chairman and if my statement is questioned, I feel it would be very hard to keep order with the other members of the House. Does Deputy Flanagan absolutely withdraw his statement?
I do, yes. The fact that the Chair did not hear the statement made by the Minister for Agriculture does not mean that he did not say it?
On a point of order, I would draw attention to the fact that in relation to the statement about "Jew baiting" the Minister for Defence asked what were we doing all the evening.
That is right.
Can that remark be withdrawn as disorderly?
The expression "Jew baiting", if used, should not have been made. It is unparliamentary. If Deputies create confusion themselves, they cannot expect the Chair to hear everything that is being said during the disorder.
The Minister for Defence does not deny that he used that remark.
I did not use the phrase "Jew baiting".
The Deputy asked the question: What are you doing all evening?
Yes. What are you doing?
In relation to that question and the Ceann Comhairle's ruling that it did not constitute enough to be withdrawn, I want to make a protest here.
I did not rule in respect of the Minister for Defence.
In relation to what he said, would the Chair ask that the remark be withdrawn, that the Minister withdraw it?
I only asked what were they doing all the afternoon. I cannot see anything unparliamentary about that.
In relation to the words "Jew baiting", I think the Minister used the words "what else"?
You, Sir, speak of this being the National Assembly and that there is a dignity about it. When a particular Deputy with a particular tendency to certain activities is criticised in relation to the Government and asked questions in relation to it, I protest being charged with raising questions about that Deputy because of his religion.
Does the Deputy agree that there is an obligation on Party Leaders——
Sit down.
It is all hypocrisy—a pack of hypocrites.
Have manners.
Who does the Minister think he is? This Parliament is here despite him.
On a point of order, can we be protected from an organised attack on the part of the Fianna Fáil Party that questions in relation to the actions of Deputy Briscoe cannot be raised here without the question of "Jew baiting" being raised or without the charge being levelled of taking notice of his religion? I think that is a matter of vital importance in this National Assembly.
May I ask whether the Deputy agrees that there is an obligation on Party Leaders to try to preserve a minimum standard of decency amongst their members?
Attend to the Minister for Agriculture.
I ask the protection of the House so that we will not be prevented from raising matters of public interest and decorum and the use of the Government's name by individual Deputies attending either functions in Ireland or elsewhere and speaking in the name of the Government. We should not be prevented from raising questions with regard to that by implications that we are involving ourselves in the discussion of religious matters generally or the religion of any individual Deputy. I challenge the Minister for Industry and Commerce on that.
This is the most hypocritical performance I have seen in this House.
By the Minister for Agriculture, I agree, and the Taoiseach should be ashamed of himself.
The ordinary language of decent conversation should obtain in debates in this House. May I ask Deputies to accept that? I have ruled in respect of the expression "Jew baiting." I cannot rule in respect of anything else. I do not know to what the Minister for Defence was referring.
May I have permission to raise Question No. 51 on the Order Paper for Thursday, 13th of February, 1958, with the Minister for Local Government on the Adjournment this evening?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
I do not know whether the Ceann Comhairle heard me during the course of Questions, but I should like to ask permission to raise the subject matter of Questions Nos. 30 and 31 on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.