Before the Order of Business today, I wish to make an announcement. On 14 October 1999 and subsequent dates, I made a ruling to allow for a brief topical question from the Leaders, which in my view reflected the evolving practice, and in December last year I circulated to all Members a detailed explanatory note on the Order of Business indicating the scope of the procedure on the Leaders' questions.
I was perfectly within my rights, as Ceann Comhairle, to make my ruling on the Leaders' questions facility. However, in view of the fact that this facility has been challenged on a number of occasions and was seriously challenged yesterday, and the fact that the perimeters have been pushed out daily in regard to what can be raised on Leaders' questions resulting in prolonged debate and disorder, I have come to the conclusion that this facility must be provided for by a change in Standing Orders. Accordingly, as it is important that all Members know where we stand in regard to the procedures that are in operation on the Order of Business, I intend from today to strictly maintain the position set out in Standing Order 26(3) on matters that can be raised.
It is a matter for the Dáil reform sub-committee in the first instance to propose amendments to Standing Orders and the matter of raising topical issues, which I have tried to deal with, can be provided for in that committee and put forward for agreement by the House as a Standing Order in its own right. This is the best and only way to proceed. In the meantime, the Leaders' questions facility will not continue except in relation to the issue of Northern Ireland. I call the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.