On a point of order, I wish to raise the matter of a Private Notice Question that was disallowed. The question was if it is lawful for a Galway Deputy, a Minister of State, to advertise on radio in the days preceding the Galway East by-election and if TDs are now permitted to advertise on radio and television. That question was disallowed, not for the normal reason, namely, that it is not urgent——
Business of Dáil.
This is not in order.
It is a point of order——
The Deputy may not tell the Chair what is a point of order. I am telling him it is not a point of order.
The reply I got was that the Minister is not responsible——
The Deputy knows he cannot raise the ruling of the Ceann Comhairle in the House.
I want to know——
I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
I will not resume my seat.
I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
I want to find out if it is lawful for Fianna Fáil Deputies to advertise on radio and television.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
I will not resume my seat.
I will send for the Ceann Comhairle. I am asking the Deputy to leave the House.
Is it lawful for Galway Deputies——
I am telling the Deputy he must leave the House.
I will not leave the House. I will not have any more hassle from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Will the Deputy leave the House? I am sending for the Ceann Comhairle.
I will sit here. What is happening is a scandalous abuse of the system and I object to it vociferously. The Minister of State is now advertising on the radio. It is an absolute scandal to say the Minister has no responsibility to this House, one might as well tell the House he is not responsible for the Provos advertising on radio and television. I object very strongly to the reply from the Minister that he has no responsibility to this House for the lawfulness of the actions of RTE. Implicit in that reply is that any Member can advertise on RTE without recourse to this House. I totally reject that reply. If I am not permitted to raise the matter by question, if the Minister is not answerable to the House, who is answerable to the House? Where and when can the matter be raised? The Bishop of Galway cannot advertise on television without calling himself Chairman of Trocaire. Surely it is not in order for Ministers and Ministers of State to advertise constantly. This is the second Minister of State who has done this in the run-up to the Galway by-election. I am asking the Chair for guidance as to where I can raise the matter.
We are waiting for the Ceann Comhairle.
Can we proceed now? We are wasting time——
I indicated I was sending for the Ceann Comhairle and when I indicate I am doing something I do it.
If the Ceann Comhairle comes he will only confuse the situation more. Let us move to the next business.
If the Ceann Comhairle comes the Chair will have to explain what the row is about.
I am asking the Tánaiste to name the Deputy and move that he be suspended from the service of the Dáil.