I wish to bring to your attention an important and urgent matter concerning the conduct of the business of this House. The Chair will recall that on the Order of Business this morning I attempted to elicit information from the Taoiseach as to his intentions in relation to the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism and I tried to——
Business of Dáil.
I indicated to the Deputy that the matter was not in order this morning——
Events have overtaken——
I fail to understand how it can be in order now.
If you will bear with me——
There are procedures laid down for dealing with the matter. The Deputy should pursue it along legistimate lines.
With the utmost respect to the office you hold, events have overtaken what happened here in this House this morning. The Taoiseach, who has not said a word in this House on this topic has been at a party meeting which is still going on——
A very important meeting.
——and, secondly, the Government seem to have made a decision that this matter can be discussed in the Seanad tomorrow. I consider both of these events as far as the Taoiseach and the Government are concerned to be indications of total contempt for this House.
These matters could be better discussed among the Whips of this House.
The matter has not been discussed among the Whips of this House, and that is my very point.
I suggest that it might be discussed among the Whips.
The Taoiseach has not had the courtesy to inform the other parties in this House.
It is not a matter for the Chair and the Chair will not become involved.
It is a matter for the Chair.
It is not a matter for the Chair——
The Taoiseach would not give any information to this House this morning.
——and the Chair will not become involved.
With respect, the Taoiseach would not give any information this morning and it appears now that the Government have made a decision——
I have no control over these matters, Deputy.
We are entitled to some respect from the Government. The Taoiseach has chosen for the past two months to say nothing about this matter in this House, yet he has gone ahead and informed the Seanad today at 2.30 p.m. that the matter can be discussed in that House tomorrow——
And a Bill published.
There is no logic in what is happening.
The Deputy has ventilated his grievance. There is nothing more I can do about it.
I am asking your guidance in relation to the conduct of affairs in this House. Surely we are entitled to——
I can only suggest that the matter be discussed among the Whips. That is the normal procedure.
Unfortunately the matter has not been discussed.
Certainly, the Chair is not going to allow the matter to be debated now. The next business is the Status of Children Bill.
If you are not prepared to give me some guidance on this matter I wish to serve notice on you under Standing Order 30 of this House that I will be seeking the suspension of this House tomorrow morning to discuss what I consider to be the most important affair on the agenda but which the Taoiseach does not want on the agenda of this House.
I would be glad to see the Deputy proceed along such legitimate lines.
On a point of order, is it appropriate where the Leader of a political party asks the Taoiseach to make a statement in relation to legislation, that immediately thereafter the Seanad are given permission to publish a Bill relating to such matters, without this House having the elementary courtesy of being informed?
I am not concerned about what happens in the other House. It is no concern of mine.
It is a gross insult to this House.
I am not going to allow my ruling in this matter to be circumvented by the Deputy making a speech. I am proceeding to the next business.
May I ask if it is appropriate that the Taoiseach should treat this House with such contempt?
The next business is the Report Stage of the Status of Children Bill.