On a point of order——
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers.
Not now, Deputy. Perhaps I will hear you another time. We are embarking on priority questions.
My point of order has to do with questions particularly. I tabled a question to the Minister for the Environment but your office refused it on the basis that it contained argument. However, a similar question on the Order Paper with the exact same content has been allowed by you today.
Deputy Stagg, please resume your seat.
It is outrageous that my question was refused——
The Deputy was guilty of gross disorder this morning. He is repeating this disorder now. I must ask him to resume his seat or leave the House.
You refused my question on the spurious grounds——
Deputy Stagg, resume your seat or leave the House.
——that it contained argument. However, a similar question with the exact same content has been allowed by you——
Deputy Stagg, I must insist that you leave the House; otherwise I shall have to have you named.
It is not acceptable that——
I must ask that the Deputy be named.
Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn) rose.
The question is: "That Deputy Stagg be suspended from the service of An Dáil".
On a point of order, Deputy Stagg has not been named. I imagine the stenographer would have difficulty in recording what has been said as Deputy Stagg has not been named.
The Minister rose in his place and intimated——
He said nothing.
In case of any doubt in the matter I will put the question again.
May I appeal to you, at this stage, a Cheann Comhairle, to reconsider this very reasonable case——
Deputy Howlin, resume your seat. This kind of obstruction will not be tolerated by the Chair. I have asked that the motion be moved.
I move: "That Deputy Emmet Stagg be suspended from the service of An Dáil".
Question put.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 56; Níl, 13.
Tá
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Brady, Gerard.
- Brady, Vincent.
- Brennan, Mattie.
- Brennan, Séamus.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Browne, John (Wexford).
- Calleary, Seán.
- Callely, Ivor.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Dennehy, John.
- Ellis, John.
- Fahey, Frank.
- Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
- Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
- Flood, Chris.
- Flynn, Pádraig.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Harney, Mary.
- Haughey, Charles J.
- Hilliard, Colm.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kelly, Laurence.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kirk, Séamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Lenihan, Brian.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- McCreevy, Charlie.
- McDaid, Jim.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- Molloy, Robert.
- Morley, P.J.
- Nolan, M.J.
- O'Connell, John.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Malley, Desmond J.
- O'Toole, Martin Joe.
- Power, Seán.
- Reynolds, Gerry.
- Smith, Michael.
- Stafford, John.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Wallace, Mary.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Wilson, John P.
- Wyse, Pearse.
Níl
- Bell, Michael.
- Foxe, Tom.
- Gregory, Tony.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kavanagh, Liam.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- O'Shea, Brian.
- O'Sullivan, Gerry.
- O'Sullivan, Toddy.
- Pattison, Séamus.
- Quinn, Ruairí.
- Spring, Dick.
- Stagg, Emmet.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies V. Brady and Wyse; Níl, Deputies Howlin and O'Shea.
Question declared carried.
The Deputy will now comply with the decision of the House.
I accept the decision of the House but I protest against your decision, a Cheann Comhairle.
Leave the House, Deputy.
Deputy Stagg withdrew from the Chamber.
On a point of order, I will try to be very orderly, but could I ask you, Sir, given the inconsistency in the refusal to accept Deputy Stagg's question and Question No. 41 on today's Order Paper——
I cannot entertain this matter now.
I am asking politely——
If Deputy Spring or any other Deputy feels the ruling of the Chair is wrong, there is a procedure laid down for dealing with the matter. It may not be challenged now.
I am not challenging anything. I am merely asking that this matter be discussed at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges because it is very serious.
That is a matter for the Deputy. He has representation on that body.
An céad ceist chun an Aire Comhshaoil. I am now dealing with questions nominated for priority, for which a time limit applies under Standing Orders of the House.
On a point of order, should you not now move to ordinary questions since you had called Question No. 1 before the vote was taken?
The Chair hardly had a chance to deal with questions when disorder broke out. I am proceeding now to deal with priority questions. Please allow me to do so.
This whole——
Does the Deputy want questions to proceed?
Yes, but I do not want to be put at a further disadvantage than is already the case.
I am proceeding now to deal with priority questions. I did not get a chance to do so earlier.
A Cheann Comhairle, are you giving injury time? Will there be an extension to the time available?
I am applying the usual time of a quarter of an hour.