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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 1975

Vol. 280 No. 10

Statement by Ceann Comhairle.

Seán Treacy

An Ceann Comhairle

In connection with my ruling last Thursday on the claim to move the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order No. 30, Deputy Callanan stated that attempts by a number of Members— he mentioned Deputy Connolly—on the previous day to raise the proposed increased CIE fares on the Estimate for Transport and Power had been ruled out of order by the Chair.

Although I was not aware of any such ruling I proposed to look into the matter. Having done so, I can find no ruling to this effect. Deputy Callanan may have had in mind the ruling, as at column 1341 of the Official Report, by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle during a speech by Deputy Connolly. At that point Deputy Connolly was referring in some detail to the price control procedures operated by the National Prices Commission and the profits, which he stated, resulted from these procedures. Prices as such are not a matter for the Minister for Transport and Power and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle ruled accordingly.

I should add that each member of the Opposition who spoke on Wednesday referred, and in my view, relevantly, to the CIE fares increases. The references are, Deputy John O'Leary at columns 1287 to 1289, Deputy Connolly at columns 1336 to 1340 and 1344 and Deputy Hussey at column 1351 of the Official Report.

John Callanan

Mr. Callanan

Arising from that statement, I made it clear at the time that I was not sure who had been in the Chair when the ruling in question was made. When Deputy Connolly referred to the increased CIE fares and to the increased ESB charges, the occupant of the Chair said that prices are not a matter for the Minister for Transport and Power. When Deputy O'Malley wished to discuss the increased charges I said that somebody in the Chair had ruled that matter out of order. As appears in the Official Report, it was the Leas-Cheann Comhairle who ruled Deputy Connolly out of order. I wish to protect my integrity. Deputy Kelly said that the ruling referred to did not appear in the Official Report. I was not prompted by anybody in what I said. I merely referred to the ruling I had heard. I assumed that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle was correct in that ruling.

(Interruptions.)
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