I gave notice of a special notice question and I believe that it has been ruled as neither important nor urgent.
Business of Dáil
The Deputy may not make a speech on the matter at this stage. He is long enough in this House to know that this is a disorderly way of getting around a ruling by the Chair. The Deputy has attempted it on more than one occasion. I have considered the Deputy's question and it is not one for private notice.
I did not make any effort to get around your ruling.
The Deputy may put down this question in the ordinary way.
The question went down and I understand it will not be taken tomorrow either.
That is not a matter for the Chair.
This is an urgent matter and cannot wait until after the Easter recess. I want to know from you can we take this question now or on the Adjournment tonight.
There is no question before me to take on any Adjournment.
The question before you is——
I have ruled the question out of order. Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
——if in view of the fact that there have been casualties among the Garda Síochaná from excessive exposure to CS gas grenades and smoke grenades fired into the State by British forces——
It is not a matter for the Chair.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, Deputy Fox, I understand, put a special notice question to you for consideration and you refused him.
This is not an urgent question.
Are the police to be expected to go to the Border without gas masks?
Deputy Fox then requested the question——
This is a typical Deputy Fox question. That is what it is.
The gardaí are entitled to be protected with gas masks at least when they are going to the Border.
There can be no discussion on the Chair's ruling. I have ruled according to Standing Orders and if Deputy Fox does not like that he knows what to do.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan): I would suggest——
I will hear nothing further on Deputy Fox's question.
(Cavan): I was going to suggest, with your permission, that whatever liaison there is between yourself and the Department concerned might go into action with a view to putting this question on tomorrow's Order Paper in view of the fact that Dáil Éireann is going into recess and that Deputy Fox will not have an opportunity of raising the question for some weeks.
I can assure the Deputy that I have no objection to taking the question tomorrow but it is a matter for the Department and not for the Chair.
(Cavan): I appreciate that but I understand there is some liaison, whether it is through the officers of this House or not, between yourself and the Department and I would suggest that they might——
This is a matter for decision by them, not me.
(Cavan): I know, but I would suggest that they might explore the possibility of putting the question on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I think they have explored that.
You appear to know that the Department of Justice have explored the possibility of taking this question tomorrow. I want to know from you now can this question be taken tomorrow?
That is a matter for the Department concerned and not for the Ceann Comhairle. I have no objection.
Is it not within your discretion to take it or not?
I have ruled that this is not a question of urgent public importance.
(Interruptions.)
If members of the Garda Síochána were knocked out by British CS gas and if that is not a matter of——
Will Deputy Fox please sit down? This is a typical mischievous question from Deputy Fox.
It is not a mischievous question. These members of the Garda Síochána will be called out by the Government to perform their duties next Sunday and I want to know from this House what steps will be taken to protect them?
(Interruptions.)
The House is entitled to an answer to that question.
On a point of order, is the Ceann Comhairle a free agent in accepting or refusing questions submitted to him by Members of the House?
Standing Order No. 30 says that the Chair may accept questions relating to matters of urgent public importance. I have pointed out to Deputy Fox that I did not consider this question came under that heading but that he could put it down as an ordinary question. The Department refused to accept it.
You said you were willing to take the question. Will you take the question tomorrow?
That is a matter for the Department.
Is it not a fact that any question can be taken on the Adjournment and not necessarily a question on the Order Paper?
We are referring to this question submitted by the Deputy.
(Cavan): On a point of order, am I not correct in thinking that any Deputy can give you notice that he proposes to raise a matter on the Adjournment, whether it is on the Order Paper or not, and that, subject to your considering that it is a fit matter for raising on the Adjournment, he is entitled to raise it.
That is correct.
Can the matter be dealt with on the Adjournment tonight?
Is Deputy Fox giving notice?
I have already asked whether I can deal with the matter now——
——tonight or tomorrow?
If the Deputy wishes to give notice that he is raising it on the Adjournment tonight the Chair will consider it.
(Interruptions.)
Any consideration that you give to me will be given right now. I want to know will you allow me to raise this on the Adjournment tonight or tomorrow?
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(Cavan): I gave notice that I proposed to raise a matter on the Adjournment. Provided Deputy Fox's question is taken, I am prepared to postpone mine in favour of his.
I can give no guarantee to Deputy Fox but I will consider his application to have a discussion on the Adjournment. Is Deputy Fitzpatrick withdrawing his application?
(Cavan): Only in favour of Deputy Fox. If he does not go on I want to go on.
I give notice that I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment tonight.
I will consider the Deputy's request.
On a point of information, on Sunday last in my constituency there was a rather tragic incident——
The Deputy's question has been ruled out of order. The Deputy will please sit down. We must have some order in the House.
With respect——
There is very little respect.
I am merely asking could I raise this question tomorrow? Could the Ceann Comhairle give me an indication as to whether I could raise it.
The Deputy will have to give notice tomorrow that he wishes to raise it.
Could I raise it on the ordinary order of questions? Sixty-five people were injured in this incident.
The Deputy will not discuss the matter now.
Can I have it on the Order Paper tomorrow?
There are some rules of order in the House. Deputies may not rise at any moment and give notice. There are times when these things have to be done.
Could I have it on the Order Paper tomorrow?
That is not a matter for the Chair. The Deputy may give notice tomorrow that he wishes to raise the subject matter and it will be considered.