Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 1968

Vol. 232 No. 6

Request to Move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 29.

Mr. Cluskey

A Cheann Comhairle, I seek your permission to move the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 29 to discuss the following matter of urgent public importance:

That the interference of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs into the internal affairs of the Radio/ Telefís Éireann Authority will prevent the impartial and objective discussion of matters of public debate as intended by section 18 of the 1960 Broadcasting Authority Act and is in contravention of section 31 of the same Act which requires that the Minister must submit directions to the Authority in writing.

An Ceann Comhairle

There can be no discussion on this. The Deputy is putting a question to the Chair.

Mr. Cluskey

Can I substantiate——

An Ceann Comhairle

No.

Mr. Corish

Is he to be stifled, too?

Mr. S. Dunne

On a point of order——

Mr. Cluskey

Surely I am not "Seven Days"?

Mr. S. Dunne

——can we get a little order from these disorderly Fianna Fáil people? Surely a Deputy is entitled in a reasonable time to be given the reasons why he is not allowed on the Adjournment of the House to discuss this urgent matter? Surely, since you allowed me last week an opportunity to state my reasons you should afford Deputy Cluskey——

An Ceann Comhairle

How does the Deputy know how the Chair will rule?

Mr. S. Dunne

I thought the Chair had ruled.

Mr. Cluskey

As a matter of special public importance——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will resume his seat. He has put the the question to the Chair. The Deputy gave the Chair very little notice of his intention to raise this matter. I received it only two minutes before the opening of the sitting.

Mr. L'Estrange

The Government gave the officials in Radio Telefís Éireann very little time.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair has considered it and has come to the conclusion that it does not satisfy the requirement of Standing Order 29 in relation to urgency. I shall read Standing Order 29:

A motion for the adjournment of the Dáil on a definite matter of urgent public importance may be made, if a member, who has given notice to the Ceann Comhairle before the opening of the sitting, rises in his place at the commencement of public business and states that he requests leave to move the adjournment of the Dáil for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, whereupon he shall state the matter.

He has stated the matter and the Chair has considered it very carefully and has come to the conclusion that it is not a matter of urgent public importance. I am sure the Deputy will find other ways of raising the matter.

Mr. Cluskey

The fact that three programmes prepared by "Seven Days", one dealing with Biafra, one with the Special Branch and one with planning permission in Mount Pleasant, represent matters of special urgency and importance——

An Ceann Comhairle

I must ask Deputy Cluskey to resume his seat.

Mr. Cluskey

Fianna Fáil have now suppressed opinion contrary to their own by amalgamating the "Seven Days" programme with the news.

Mr. M. O'Leary

It is dictatorship.

The Taoiseach

It is a complete fabrication.

Mr. S. Dunne

You put your stooges in there in order to kill discussion.

Mr. Cluskey

He is afraid of the "Seven Days" programme.

An Ceann Comhairle

If Deputies cannot accept the ruling of the Chair, I will ask them to leave the House.

Mr. Treacy

The Taoiseach said it is a fabrication.

The Taoiseach

It is completely untrue to say there is interference, as alleged in a morning newspaper today.

Mr. Sweetman

On a point of order, would the Ceann Comhairle please give the reasons why he ruled out a Private Notice Question by Deputy Cosgrave on the subject? It was not under the same Standing Order.

Mr. Haughey

You are out of order. Sit down.

An Ceann Comhairle

There can be no discussion on the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. Sweetman

The Chair always gives the reasons and Deputies are always made aware of them.

An Ceann Comhairle

The reason was given.

Mr. S. Dunne

They put their stooges in to stifle discussion on PR. This is plain to everybody in the country.

Mr. Boland

You will have too much discussion.