It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1 and 14 (Votes 32, 42 and 42). Questions will be taken at 2.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
If Deputy Briscoe's resignation from the Committee of Public Accounts is a fact will he be replaced?
He has not resigned as far as I know.
That does not arise on the Order of Business. We cannot debate the matter now.
It is a very important crisis.
It is not relevant now.
The whole working of the Committee——
(Interruptions.)
What the Deputy has intimated is not a fact.
I am aware the Ard-Fheis is over.
On a point of order.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy O'Leary is out of order in raising the matter.
I am quite entitled to raise a point of order. Surely it is a matter of supreme importance to this Parliament that a Member appointed by this Parliament to the Committee of Public Accounts refuses to serve on that Committee? May I therefore respectfully ask the Taoiseach if he would treat the matter with the utmost seriousness?
Do not be so unctuous.
The Taoiseach is being hypocritical on the matter.
The Deputy is making a political plaything out of it.
There is collusion going on in this House.
Deputy Desmond may not continue with this matter.
As the Deputy has made an allegation about collusion between certain Members and other Members of the Committee I invite him to expose this collusion if he has any evidence of it.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I am making a charge in this House that it is a matter of the utmost gravity when a Member refuses to serve on a committee.
It is not in order, Deputy. It cannot be raised in this fashion.
Is Deputy Briscoe's decision an individual one?
Make your allegations.
I am making my allegations.
The Deputy will make no allegations at this stage. The matter does not arise. The Deputy is out of order.
Was Deputy Briscoe's decision directed by the Government Party?
This is more of this contemptible innuendo.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
This House——
Deputy Desmond must resume his seat. He cannot discuss the matter because it. does not arise.
——is entitled to a personal explanation from Deputy Briscoe.
The Deputy is not in order.