Before resuming the Order of Business I am sure Members would wish very much to join me in extending a most warm cordial welcome to the members of the Cuban parliamentary delegation, the first Cuban parliamentary delegation to visit Ireland, who are happily with us, led by Dr. Anicio Leon Lobeck. On behalf of the Members of this House I trust they will have a very pleasant and fruitful stay with us. Céad Míle Fáilte, a hundred thousand welcomes.
Visit of Cuban Parliamentary Delegation.
A Cheann Comhairle, you will be aware that I submitted for your notice a Private Notice Question in relation to a matter which I felt was of grave importance to this House, that is that I believe the Taoiseach misled the House this morning. There is a sense of urgency about that matter. It should have been dealt with today because there is a tremendous inconsistency between statements emanating from the Government——
Sorry, Deputy Spring.
I shall be very brief.
The Chair is on his feet. I have very clearly set out my views in respect of the matter in which the Deputy is interested. The Taoiseach was responding this morning to comments made by the Leader of the Fine Gael Party in a situation in which I deemed the matter to be out of order. I have communicated my decision to the Deputy and I have nothing more to add to it at this stage. The matter is not in order and may not be pursued now.
With respect a Cheann Comhairle, I should like clarification on that. Are you maintaining that because the Taoiseach's statement was in reply to a matter which was out of order we are now to assume that the Taoiseach did not make the statement?
I am not suggesting any such thing, Deputy. I am saying that I have conveyed my decision to the Deputy and to the other Members who are interested in this topic. My ruling stands. The matter may not be canvassed in the House now and may not be proceeded with.
I have to express my absolute regret at that decision because as Members of this House we have some rights and entitlements, few and all as they are, and we should not be treated to different statements coming from the Taoiseach and from the Government Press Secretary simultaneously.
Deputy Spring has other ways and means of raising this matter.
I do not at this point in time because the Dáil will adjourn at 5 p.m. This is a serious matter——
I am sorry Deputy——
We either have or have not laws.
I have conveyed my decision to the Deputy.
If we have laws the Government should not be saying they are not to be obeyed.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach set out the position this morning.
He told us otherwise five minutes later.
Deputy Spring, please desist.
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
I do not care whether the Government persists with this legislation or decides to abandon it but for God's sake, let them be truthful about what they are doing in this House.
The matter may not be raised now.
This morning Bord Fáilte issued a statement informing all and sundry that the dispute was now at an end.
The Chair is still on its feet, Deputy O'Malley.
Are you trying to continue it now?
Tell the truth.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy O'Malley, please resume your seat.
If there is any way this matter can be clarified it is here and now.
On a point of order——
Resume your seat, Deputy Doyle. I have nothing further to add to what I have conveyed to the Deputies in question.
Can one member of the Government clarify the position?
The Taoiseach spoke this morning in the House.
So there is no change, is that the position? Is everything that was said last night and this morning wrong?
Is Deputy Cullen going to resume the debate?
It is one thing in the House and something else outside.
A Cheann Comhairle, I have been offering——
I am sorry, Deputy. If it is the matter we have already mentioned, I have conveyed my decision to you in respect of the matter you wanted to raise.
I want your advice on a matter.
If you wish my advice this is not the place for it. You can see me in my office.
(Interruptions.)
My rulings may not be canvassed in this manner.
It is not a matter of canvassing, I would just like an explanation, a Cheann Comhairle. I accept fully that we cannot discuss items that are sub judice. I accept that general ruling and the ruling from you. My Private Notice Question asked if the Taoiseach would clarify the arrangement entered into between himself and the anti-rod licence campaign.
I have conveyed my decision to the Deputy. I have nothing further to add to it.
I deliberately framed my question so it would not touch on the sub judice issue. Why was it ruled out, a Cheann Comhairle? It has nothing to do with the sub judice issue.
If the Deputy feels my ruling in this matter is seriously remiss she has a way out. It may not be canvassed in this House.
I was not, but the item is so important I think we should resolve the matter here. We do poor justice to representative democracy by this procedure in this House. We cannot respond——
Deputy Martin Cullen on No. 7. The Deputy is deliberately sitting down.
(Interruptions.)
You are standing, a Cheann Comhairle. What do you expect me to do? I am not challenging the Chair while the Chair is on its feet.
(Interruptions.)
We cannot respond.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, I wish to ask you, Sir, in the interests of the order of the House — and I can assure you that I am not being at all contentious and I accept that you are in a position to issue a rebuke to me and my colleagues on this matter — why you believe it necessary to terminate Question Time entirely on an occasion when a Deputy is so disorderly as to have to be invited to leave? It has happened on two occasions recently. Surely, Sir, it would be orderly and proper for you to invite the Deputy to leave and then to resume the order?
Deputy Dukes was not present on the occasion of this disorderly incident. If he reads the report of the proceedings he will be completely satisfied that the Chair had no other alternative but to suspend Question Time.
Unless——
The Deputy persistently refused to obey, to leave the House.
You could have put him out and continued Question Time.
When the Deputy finally leaves the House the rest of us have rights in relation to questions.
On a point of order——
How long are these points of order going to last?
For the future guidance of this House, is it the situation that no Deputy is amenable to this House in respect of a remark he makes which is out of order? Is it a fact that if the Taoiseach's remarks were out of order that would make him incapable——
I am calling on Deputy Cullen.
In view of all this, can Deputy Molloy be invited back into the House?
(Interruptions.)
It strikes me, Sir, that he was probably a great deal closer to order in all the circumstances than some of the people who have been referred to.
It is a gimmick that has gone right now.
In view of your rather harsh treatment of Deputy Molloy and all the things that have happened since, would you exercise the prerogative of mercy and invite him back?
(Interruptions.)