It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 (resumed). Private Members' Business, from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., will be item No. 19 (resumed).
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, I want to ask for some advice on a point. Last week a number of my colleagues and myself put down a question, the object of which was to seek from the Government an expression of their view as to whether an adequate choice of solicitors and counsel in the Stardust inquiry ought not to be provided other than the two that were provided.
The Deputy was informed as to why that question was ruled out. I am not going to discuss it here.
I only want to say this, that the Chair — and I do not question his ruling — ruled it out on the grounds that the matter had been raised on the adjournment.
I am sorry. I have followed the usual practice in relation to that question. I am not going to allow it to be discussed here.
The Chair knows that I am not going to make a disorderly interruption.
The Deputy is proceeding along that road.
I must be allowed to make a point in the Dáil.
I am sorry, Deputy. I am calling item No. 5.
Raising a matter on the adjournment does not preclude a Deputy from questioning the Minister. There is a difference between questioning a Minister and raising a matter on the Adjournment.
I am calling item No. 5.
If the Minister refuses to answer that question raised on the adjournment then no question can get an answer.
I have to rule on questions every day. I give hundreds of rulings and I am not going to allow this to be raised here.
But something like this is happening every single day.
I followed the usual procedure in relation to that question. I do not propose to allow it to be discussed here. I have to rule on numerous questions. If I were to allow my ruling on every question to be disputed in the House we would get nothing else done.
A question which is out of order is one thing but a question which is out of order because the matter has been raised on the adjournment is quite different. A matter raised on the adjournment cannot elicit——
I am not going to allow it to be discussed here. Deputy Deasy.
Could the Tánaiste give us some information on the task force which was announced last weekend to investigate the chaos in the Department of Social Welfare?
There is an orderly manner in which questions can be put down.
Could the Minister for Social Welfare answer this?
Those matters can be put down as ordinary questions and if they are in order they will be put on the Order Paper.