On a point of order, I direct your attention, as chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to the conduct earlier today of Deputy Alan Shatter in behaving in a manner which is contrary to all the time honoured traditions and practices of this House. I should like to know if I can ask you to have the matter brought to the attention of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Business of Dáil.
The procedures for bringing a matter like that, or any matter, before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is for a Member of the Committee to raise it or request that it be put on the agenda.
I should like your guidance and ask if in your view Deputy Shatter, in acting in this manner, behaved in a gross disorderly fashion?
On a point of information, I should like to tell Deputy Haughey that I was in the Chair at the time. I indicated to Deputy Shatter that I had not the power to compel him to leave the seat but I asked him to leave and he did not.
I did not hear what the Leas-Cheann Comhairle said.
I told him that I had not the power under Standing Orders to compel him to leave, and I appealed to him to leave but he did not.
On a point of order, as the Chair was not present in the House at the time, I should like to say that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle indicated to me that it was more usual that Government Deputies sat on this side of the House. I indicated to him that I would be delighted to return to this side of the House when there was some member of the Opposition party present to participate in or listen to the important debate that was taking place.
I will not allow this to develop. The Deputy should resume his seat.