I gave notice last Monday——
Business of Dáil.
The Deputy may not raise a matter like that at this stage.
I had no opportunity of raising it at any other stage. I was not aware it was being disallowed. I have been informed that this——
The Deputy may not raise the matter in this form.
I was informed only a short time ago that this question was not in order because the incident took place in Northern Ireland and I want to show the Chair and the Taoiseach——
The Deputy must resume his seat.
I am not resuming my seat.
Then the Deputy will have to leave the House.
If the Chair and the House are prepared——
The Deputy must leave the House.
——as a matter of backing up the British Army, it is a sad reflection——
The Chair must ask the Deputy to leave the House because the Deputy may not question the rulings of the Chair.
I have no intention of leaving the House.
In that case I shall have to send for the Ceann Comhairle if the Deputy does not desist.
As an elected representative of the people, I am not leaving this House——
The Deputy leaves me with no option but to ask the Ceann Comhairle to return to the Chair.
Before the Chair does that, most of us, including myself, are in the dark as to what it is all about. Perhaps, we could be enlightened if we are asked to vote.
The question was evidently ruled out of order and the Deputy was informed of that and if the Deputy wishes to pursue the matter he may see the Ceann Comhairle in regard to it.
Would it be too much to ask the Chair to tell us what the question is about?
Permission could be given to Deputy Fox to read the question.
No. The Chair may not do so because the Chair has ruled the question out of order.
I am not resuming my seat. The question was to ask the Taoiseach if he is aware of an incident——
I cannot allow the Deputy to do this. Unless the Deputy resumes his seat, he will compel me to send for the Ceann Comhairle.
I have definite proof——
The Deputy is disobeying the Chair.
Here is a photograph in the Irish Press. There is the Border——
The Deputy must resume his seat.
There is the CS gas arising and there is, therefore, no doubt in anybody's mind where the Border exists. I am not resuming my seat until I know whether we are on the side of the British Army——
There are three Private Notice questions——
I want to raise this matter now.
The Deputy will not be allowed to raise it now.
I am going to raise it.
Very well. I shall send for the Ceann Comhairle.
I want to know who informed the Taoiseach that this incident took place in Northern Ireland. There is a photograph: surely the Taoiseach saw the Irish Press? Surely he knows where the Border lies?
(Interruptions.)
The question was disallowed, I am told because the incident took place in Northern Ireland. I can emphatically deny that because I was on the spot. There is the photograph——
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy will not obey his own Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
What is the Taoiseach proposing to do about this?
I have had no notice of the Deputy's question.
Who informed the Taoiseach that this incident took place in Northern Ireland?
This is a matter between the Deputy and the Chair. It has nothing to do with me.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach is standing idly by now.
Here we have upwards of 400 people, 400 Irishmen filling in a crater. I want to know on whose side are we? What has the Taoiseach to say about it? Did he not tell Mr. Heath about this when he saw him? Is the Taoiseach aware that at 6 o'clock this morning 22 lorry-loads of British soldiers arrived at this cratered road to blow it up again? Is the Taoiseach aware that they did serious damage to farms owned by Mr. Peadar Traynor——
(Interruptions.)
We shall have to depend on Blaney.
What action is the Taoiseach prepared to take in all this matter?
He is standing idly by.
I made a request last night for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to visit this area. I see that he attended some private function at Carrickmacross. Why does he not do something when upwards of 400 Irishmen are confronted by British troops with Sten guns and machine guns.
In view of the statement made by Deputy Fox, could the Taoiseach not do something——
Of course, we have done everything possible. Do not make a bandwagon of the whole thing.
The House is suspended at present until the Ceann Comhairle comes.
(Interruptions.)