I move: "That Deputy Gormley be suspended from the service of the Dáil".
Suspension of Member.
Question put.
Vótáil.
Under Standing Order 61, any division claimed must take place immediately before the Order of Business tomorrow morning.
On promised legislation—
A Cheann Comhairle—
The Deputy must leave the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, may I remind you—
(Interruptions.)
I conclude the Order of Business.
Sitting suspended at 11.02 a.m. and resumed at 11.15 a.m.
We now move on to No. 22, motion re referral to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
On the Order of Business—
The Order of Business is over.
It is not over.
The Chair announced the end of the Order of Business.
The Chair suspended the House.
The Chair clearly announced the end of the Order of Business before suspending the sitting.
The Chair suspended the House.
The record will show the Chair announced the end of the Order of Business. The Deputy should accept the Chair's ruling. We will now proceed to No. 22.
This matter was unresolved. The Government is clearly in a difficult position. The Taoiseach has now run away from the House.
It is outrageous.
The Deputy should not be disorderly. He should have some respect for the Chair.
I have great respect for the Chair.
The Chair has called No. 22.
To move on from the Order of Business when the Government is in greatest difficulty shows a lack of respect for the Opposition and its role in this House.
The Chair has called No. 22 and the Deputy should proceed with the business of the House.
The role of the Opposition is to expose the decisions of the parties in government.
The Deputy is not allowing the business of the House to proceed. I ask the Deputy to resume his seat and allow the business of the House to proceed.
There has been clear indecision by the Government in this matter. The fact the Taoiseach has run away from the Dáil this morning and is not here to—
(Interruptions.)
Sitting suspended at 11.17 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.
We now move on to No. 22.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle—
I will allow the Deputy to speak on No. 22.
A Cheann Comhairle, in the most orderly fashion possible I would like to express my concern about the fact that the Order of Business was not finished. In fact, you had not—
I have ruled on that matter and made it quite clear before the suspension.
The record will show, Sir, that you had not announced Private Members' Business for tonight—
The record will show—
—which the Ceann Comhairle normally does at the end of the Order of Business. You had not done so, Sir, so it was obvious that the Order of Business was not concluded. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is in the House. Can he tell us which marginal constituency the Taoiseach has run off to instead of being in the House to answer questions?
Order, please.
The Taoiseach is spreading insecurity with his visits—
The Chair is on his feet.
—instead of doing his job in the House.
Deputies should resume their seats while the Chair is on his feet.
Where is the Taoiseach?
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle—
If the House is not prepared to proceed with the business already agreed for the day we will suspend the sitting until Question Time.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle—
I have made that decision and I ask Deputies to proceed in an orderly way.
The rights of Deputies have to be protected.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle—
What is the point of order?
Sir, I have no doubt you believe you announced that the Order of Business was ended. However, I have to say to you that no one on this side heard or understood what you said.
I heard it.
I am talking about Deputies on this side of the House.
The Minister is not on this side of the House yet.
The Taoiseach misled the House last week and—
If the Deputy's charge is of a serious nature he should table a substantive motion. The Deputy should not hurl serious charges across the floor of the House. These charges should be handled by way of a substantive motion.
Deputies on this side of the House have rights.
I repeat that I announced clearly that the Order of Business was completed. I closed that issue before—
A Cheann Comhairle, I suggest respectfully that was not heard.
It is not the Chair's fault if Deputies did not hear it.
It was not heard. As far as this side of the House is concerned the Taoiseach misled the House in relation to the matter—
The Deputy cannot proceed with hurling accusations across the floor of the House.
I am stating a fact, a Cheann Comhairle. This is not an accusation.
The Deputy has a correct way of doing so. If he feels that way he should table a substantive motion.
A Cheann Comhairle, we are entitled to ask questions concerning legislation on the Order of Business.
But not to hurl serious accusations across the floor of the House.
We have been misled by the Taoiseach. My colleague, Deputy Rabbitte, was misled. He was told last week that the matter had been resolved but it is clear it had not been resolved.
The Deputy should resume his seat.
As an Opposition party we have limited opportunities to raise items on the Order of Business—
Will Deputies please allow the business of the House to proceed?
There is no point in the business of the House proceeding if we are going to be frustrated by the Taoiseach running away.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle—
I call Deputy Sargent on his point of order.
A Cheann Comhairle, I have given you a motion requesting a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges this afternoon to resolve the outstanding issues which have arisen today. A parliamentary reply was given to a Deputy but the Taoiseach contradicted that reply given to my colleague, Deputy Gormley. If it is possible to arrange a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges we can continue with the business of the House and the issue can be dealt with.
I cannot give a decision as I have not seen the letter.
Otherwise, this issue will continue to run. This injustice cannot be tolerated.
The Deputy cannot continue with a statement.
This is an injustice.
Sir, as the father of the House – along with Deputy Briscoe you are the longest serving Member – would you not agree that one of the reasons we have tribunals is because the Opposition is not allowed to obtain answers in the Dáil to legitimate questions? Two legitimate questions were posed which the Taoiseach has run away from answering.
The Chair is concerned with the order of the House.
The Chair should also be concerned with the effectiveness of the House.
If Deputies do not agree to proceed with the order of the day I will have no option but to suspend the sitting.
Order without performance is no use. The Taoiseach did not give answers this morning.
I will ask the question again.
The Order of Business was not properly concluded.
It was concluded.
We asked a legitimate question on the Order of Business.
I have repeatedly made that quite clear. We now come to No. 22. I will only allow questions on No. 22.
No Sir. We were questioning the Taoiseach as we are entitled to do.
Are Deputies prepared to proceed with No. 22?
No.
Deputy Quinn is obstructing the Taoiseach.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair is on his feet. In view of the fact that Deputies continue to show disrespect for and to disobey the Chair and are not prepared to continue with the order of the day, I suspend the sitting until 2.30 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 11.35 a.m. and resumed at 2.30 p.m.