Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 3

Order of Business. - Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. S. Brennan)

I move:

"That, notwithstanding anything in the Resolution of the Dáil of 26 June, 1997, setting out the rota in which questions to members of the Government are to be asked, questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Health and Children, shall be next set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence:

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands

Minister for the Environment and Local Government

whereupon the sequence established by the Resolution of 26 June, 1997, shall continue with questions to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation."

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. Noonan

A point of order.

An Ceann Comhairle

What is the point of order?

Mr. Noonan

The point of order is that the Chair indicated that Deputy Sheehan would be called on the Order of Business. He was called, made three attempts to speak and was quite orderly but the Chair closed down the Order of Business before he could speak.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should have proceeded.

Mr. Noonan

That is very unfair, he could not proceed.

An Ceann Comhairle

He should have proceeded. He is well able to.

Mr. Noonan

The Chair quite rightly gave precedence to Deputy Quinn.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is no further discussion. We are moving on to the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill, 2000—

Mr. Noonan

No, a Cheann Comhairle, I want to protest in the strongest—

An Ceann Comhairle

We are moving to the Report Stage. The Deputy should resume his seat when the Chair is on his feet. It is quite disorderly to persist.

Mr. Noonan

On a point of order, we will not let the Chair away with this. We will not stay in the House.