Deputy Gallagher has received permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of the cessation of The Sunday Tribune and the Daily News.
Adjournment Debate. - Newspaper Closures.
On a point of order, I wish to protest at the manner in which rulings have been made in the House today. In relation to a matter which I raised at 10.30 this morning, serious allegations were made concerning the Minister for Justice.
The Deputy should please resume his seat. It is not a point of order.
Allegations have been made against the Minister.
I am asking the Deputy to resume his seat.
Not until I am heard.
You will not be heard.
Apparently not.
Please resume your seat, Deputy.
The Deputy is entitled to make a point of order.
Allow him to make his point of order.
Serious allegations have been made in the House.
There is a well-known Order that when the Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle rises a Deputy is required to sit down.
I will observe tradition.
Apart from the Deputy's membership of the House, he knows from his profession that there are rules and regulations governing any aspect of life where progress is expected. The Deputy is as familiar as I am with the rules of the House. I suggest that while you claim to rise on a point of order you are so doing in the hope that you may get an opportunity to speak. This is not allowable under Standing Orders. It is not my fault. It is not the fault of the Ceann Comhairle. These are the rules agreed to by Members of the House for generations. it does not give me any pleasure to deny anyone the right to speak at any time but, on the other hand, you accept, I hope, the wisdom of the adage nach mbíonn rath ach mar a mbíonn smacht de chinéal éigin. It does not give me any pleasure to prevent you from speaking.
Ráiméis.
I disagree with your interpretation——
(Interruptions.)
The Chair seems to have missed the point of my contribution.
The Deputy is not in order.
If the serious allegations which I raised are not denied then I must accept a tacit admission of the allegations concerning one of the most important ministries in the Government.
There is an opportunity for the Deputy to——
I am being denied the opportunity.
That is not my fault, Deputy, and I am asking you to resume your seat.
On a point of order——
There is no point of order. I am asking you to resume your seat so that I can proceed with the business which has been ordered.
I wish to raise——
Resume-your seat, Deputy, or I shall adjourn the House.
The Minister for Justice is charged in the newspapers——
I am adjourning the House.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.10 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 2 November 1982.