Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 15 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 7

Order of Business.

With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise a matter of great gravity. May I ask the Minister if the Government intends to make a statement on the information in the newspapers that during the period 1984-86 when the Tánaiste was Minister for Energy he carried out an investigation to see if improper payments were made by Tara Mines?

I am sorry, Deputy, but clearly this is not a matter for the Order of Business.

I have no other way of raising it.

There are other ways.

We have no opportunity to table Private Notice Questions.

I cannot permit it.

In view of the gravity of the matter perhaps the Minister would like to answer.

I cannot allow the Deputy to continue in this fashion; it is distinctly out of order.

The Deputy's party was in Government at the time.

I appreciate, Sir, that you have a difficulty but, given the importance of the matter and the fact that a Government investigation was carried out, the House is entitled to a report on the matter. The question was——

I am sorry that Deputy De Rossa takes issue with my ruling in the matter, but it stands.

I am asking you to exercise some flexibility in the matter and allow the Minister to respond.

No. The matter must be dealt with in a more appropriate fashion as permitted by the House.

I wish to raise a procedural matter. May I ask if any Member of the House has been in touch with you, Sir, to seek permission to make a personal statement to the House arising from the allegations made yesterday in the High Court?

I would prefer if no further reference was made to that matter. I can assure the Deputy that the Chair has not been consulted in the matter in any way.

Would you consider convening a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges once the decision of the Court is out of the way?

The Deputy can have the matter raised if he so desires. He is represented on that committee.

I appeal to you to show some leniency on the Order of Business on Fridays, given that we are not allowed to raise urgent matters on Fridays. Perhaps you might relent a little on Fridays when issues are raised on the Order of Business. For this reason I am disappointed that you will not allow the Minister to answer the questions raised in regard to these allegations. May I ask the Minister if she would make a statement——

The House will appreciate that if serious allegations are to be made they must be pursued in a very careful manner, by way of formal motion if necessary, but it is completely and utterly unwarranted and out of order to raise a matter of some seriousness on the Order of Business.

I realise that and I bow to your rulings as you are in the Chair, but would it be in order for me to ask the Minister if she is satisfied that Irish people in Somalia are safe in view of the attack on three Irish Concern workers? Again, if I could raise this matter in a proper manner I would, but I cannot do so on the Order of Business.

I am sure the Deputy will accept that the rules and precedents that govern the business of the House at this time are the same as those that apply on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If they are to be changed it is for the House to do so; it is supreme in this matter.

A Cheann Comhairle, could you——

Order. I am commenting, Deputy. Please do not interrupt the Chair. If the procedure is to be changed, the House is supreme in the matter. It would make my task much easier and I would be happy to facilitate Members, but I am bound to adhere to the rules and Standing Orders of this House.

Perhaps the Minister would like to assure us that Irish citizens are safe.

I appreciate the stand you have taken and admire you for showing firmness, but Deputy Rabbitte asked a pointed question. Have you received notice from any Member of the House that they wish to make a personal statement to the House? Unless you answer yes or no——

If the Deputy had been listening intently he would have heard my reply to Deputy Rabbitte.

I did not hear it.

I conveyed my reply to him: the Chair is not involved and has had no communication with anyone in the matter.

I wish to confirm that you did give that response, Sir, but may I bring it to your attention that on 1 July this year I tabled a parliamentary question on this matter to the Minister for——

The Deputy knows my feelings in the matter. It can be pursued in many other ways.

I do, and for that reason I will not press it. But it would be helpful if the Minister could assure the House that, to her knowledge, no serving Member of the House was concerned in this affair.

Before I ask the Minister about promised legislation, let me draw attention to the fact that there are three women in charge here this morning.

The Ceann Comhairle is in charge.

What I mean is there are three women in charge of the parties.

(Interruptions.)

I am delighted there has been so much gender mugging in one week. Can the Minister tell us when the Ethics in Government Bill will be published?

It will be be published this session.

Top
Share