Deputy Pat Rabbitte has been given permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 46 of 1 May which dealt with the Dunne v. Holles Street Hospital case. Deputy Rabbitte has ten minutes.
Private Members' Business. - Adjournment Debate.
I understood my question on the Adjournment was being taken first.
That is all right by me. The Minister of State is on his way down to take it.
I would not normally insist that my question be taken first but because of the serious situation in Cork Regional Hospital I am most anxious that the Minister be here——
The Deputy cannot have a debate on the matter now. The seniority of Minister is the basis on which questions are answered, so we will take Deputy Rabbitte's question——
That is not my interpretation of the Standing Orders. I have been advised that under Standing Orders——
Resume your seat, please, Deputy Creed.
——members of the larger parties in the House——
The Standing Orders are as I interpret them, and I am familiar with them. There is no Standing Order covering the point to which the Deputy is referring.
I beg to differ with you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but I have been advised that as a Member of one of the larger parties in the House my question should be taken first.
The Minister has indicated that he is giving way. The Minister of State will take the Deputy's question.
I seek clarification as to whether the Minister will be taking my question.
It is a team job.