On a point of order, I would like your guidance, Sir, about the rules governing the making of personal statements by Members. Yesterday you allowed the Minister for Equality and Law Reform to make a personal statement attempting to rebut a newspaper article about a circular——
Business of Dáil.
The Deputy ought to have done me the courtesy of giving me advance notice of raising a serious matter of this kind.
I appreciate that and I apologise for my failure to do so.
It is a tradition in this House that Members are entitled to make a statement when they feel deeply aggrieved in respect of attacks upon their good name and character. That is quite a normal procedure here.
Indeed, and that is why I would like to ask whether you will allow the Tánaiste to make a statement rebutting the false promises he made to the people before the last election. I would like him to make a statement on that matter. The precedent that was used by Deputy Taylor should be used by the Tánaiste——
This is clearly an abuse of the procedures of this House.
Put some trust back into politics.
Deputy Bruton will now resume his seat. This is a flagrant abuse of the procedures of this House and I will hear no more of it.
It is a misleading of the public.
You have not heard the last of this.
I will not tolerate disorder of his kind from any Member.