A Cheann Comhairle, for the last week or so I have been endeavouring to raise the question of a misleading statement in the House on the part of the Minister for Health, through no fault of his, in relation to the outbreak of salmonella in Donegal. Would the Minister avail of this opportunity to correct what was obviously wrong information sent to him?
Order of Business (Resumed).
Clearly that does not arise now, Deputy.
Would the Minister avail of an early opportunity to correct this statement because a young man's business and indeed a number of others are at stake?
I am sorry, Deputy Harte, that is not a matter for the Order of Business.
A Cheann Comhairle, I must press this point because, at a meeting of the health board yesterday, the chief executive officer issued an official statement——
The Deputy will have a find other means of raising that matter.
May I give you notice, then, Sir, of my intention to raise the matter on the Adjournment this evening?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, may I raise on the Adjournment this evening the decision of the Department of Education — in conjunction with the Office of Public Works — to put out to tender for developer competition the design, construction and financing of three schools in respect of which complex and completed contract documentation has already been prepared?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Taoiseach consider allowing the Minister for Health to make a statement to the House in relation to the decision by the VHI board not to pay for the medical costs associated with road traffic accidents?
It is not appropriate that that matter should be raised now, Deputy. The Deputy will have to find another way of raising the matter.
Then, with your permission, Sir, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
The Minister is presiding over the dismantling of the VHI scheme and does not know how to cope with it.
With your permission, Sir, may I raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of replies given to me by the Minister for Health to Questions Nos. 109 and 112 of 14 February, the contradiction between those replies and information supplied by officials of the Southern Health Board and its overall effect on the provision of services in the region, particularly in Mallow General Hospital?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I request that, as every bullock that will be killed between now and July next will die in debt——
(Interruptions.)
A Cheann Comhairle, I might remind the House that it is a very serious matter that as every bullock that will be killed between now and July will die in debt — and I am sure the Minister will agree with me in this — with your permission I might raise on the Adjournment the crisis in beef production for farmer/producers particularly for the winter feeders.
I will communicate with the Deputy. Do I observe Deputy Quill offering?
(Interruptions.)
I intended to raise, by way of Private Notice Question today, the issue of the collapse of the Cork-Swansea ferry service but it was ruled out of order. May I now ask the Minister where that will leave the budgetary predictions——
Please, Deputy Quill, I thought the Deputy was raising a relevant matter. Clearly this is not relevant now.
——of the 3,000 new jobs that were going to be created in the tourist sector in the region this year?
The Deputy must now desist. Is Deputy Molloy offering?
My colleague has not finished. I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the question of the doubts that exist about the validity of bookmakers' licences which are being transferred from Irish licence holders to large English bookmakers without a suitability certification.
I will communicate with Deputy Molloy on that matter.
On Wednesday, the 15th in the course of a few cross words between Deputy Blaney and myself I brought to your attention the fact that Deputy Blaney was using derogatory language. On the morning of the 16th——
That matter does not arise now.
I want to establish the facts of the matter.
Deputy Harte will have to find other ways and means of doing that.
On the Order of Business——
You may not persist in that kind of attitude.
On a point of order, Sir——
Deputy Harte, let us not be silly about this matter. You have raised this matter on a number of occasions with me and it is not in order.
On a point of order, I am entitled to ask the Chair for a point of order.
I know that, Deputy.
And that from a candidate for the European elections.
A successful one, Taoiseach. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say that. On a point of order, I asked the Chair's protection on Wednesday evening last and I have received——
The Deputy is again reverting to the same matter. It is not in order. I must ask the Deputy to resume his seat now. I will hear nothing further about the matter.
Sir, you have not allowed me to——
The Deputy will resume his seat. He has baited the Chair on this matter over the past few days and I will hear no more of it.
A Cheann Comhairle, I——
Deputy Harte, please desist. I am moving on to other business.
Am I entitled to put a point of order?
You are. You have put many points of order.
Am I entitled to put a point of order?
They were primarily points of disorder.
A Cheann Comhairle, I want to ask you, on a point of order——
I ask you to resume your seat. I have heard the point of order——
You have not heard the point of order.
Deputy Harte, resume your seat or leave the House.
I am seeking your protection. I was told a lie by your office last week. I was told you were seeing foreign visitors and I have not established that there were foreign visitors in the House.
Deputy Harte, leave the House.
I will leave the House——
Leave the House.
I will leave the House when I have told you that you failed to protect me last week. You were biased in your judgment.
Deputy Harte, you will leave the House. I will not take insults from you, Deputy Harte. Leave the House.
You were totally biased.
Deputy Harte, leave the House forthwith.
The Deputy withdrew from the Chamber.