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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Dec 2006

Vol. 629 No. 5

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2004: Leave to Withdraw.

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2004 be withdrawn.

Is Deputy Kehoe withdrawing his Bill?

On a point of order, I also wished to raise a matter on the Order of Business. The Tánaiste has shown total disrespect for the House.

Can the Minister for Finance take the Order of Business? The Tánaiste would not run away from "Today with Pat Kenny".

(Interruptions).

We want him back to finish the Order of Business.

Question put and agreed to.

I indicated that I wanted to address an issue on the Order of Business, but the Tánaiste has deserted the Chamber.

The Chair called an end to the Order of Business because Deputy Ring would not resume his seat.

My understanding is that Members are entitled under Standing Orders to raise matters on promised legislation.

Hear, hear. He is only short of growing a moustache.

That is entirely at the discretion of the Chair. The Chair must take account of decisions made by the House this morning. The House made a decision to conclude a Bill at 12.15 p.m.

I indicated 20 minutes ago that I wanted to raise an issue.

On a point of order, the Tánaiste came here to represent the Government.

That is not a point of order.

It is a point of order.

The Tánaiste has been appointed to respond to questions on the Order of Business from the Opposition.

The Chair called an end to that.

He has left without giving answers to the Opposition. Ceann Comhairle, I think you should suspend the House and give the Tánaiste the opportunity to come back and deal with this business.

The Deputy should listen to the Chair.

On a point of order——

(Interruptions).

When the Chair is on his feet, the Deputy must resume his seat.

On a point of order.

I have no choice but to ask the Deputy to leave.

On a point of order.

I will hear the Deputy's point of order when he first listens to the Chair.

On a point of order.

The Deputy will have to leave the House.

He will not leave until the Ceann Comhairle hears his point of order.

When the Chair is speaking, nobody has a right to interrupt.

Hear, hear.

On a point of order.

The Chair is on his feet. I will have to put the Deputy out of the House.

Bring back McDowell.

Do they know the rules at all?

The Chair decided we had to finish the Order of Business in time to allow the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 to be discussed. This House, not the Chair, decided that the Bill would conclude at 12.15 p.m. It was decided unanimously by the House and there was no vote on it. The Chair must ensure that when this House makes a decision some provision is made to implement it. The Chair took the decision and we are moving on with the Bill.

On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle.

The House will hear Deputy Kehoe on a point of order.

Members from the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and on the Opposition benches wanted to raise issues on the Order of Business.

The Deputy should talk to his colleagues behind him. No. 15(b) is a Private Members’ Bill, the Civil Unions Bill 2006 — First Stage.

This is the last day——

This is not a point of order.

The Deputy is right.

——the House will sit in 2006 and many Members want to raise important issues but they are not being allowed to avail of the opportunity to do so. We object to what has happened. It is scandalous for a senior Minister to run out of the House in the manner in which he did.

He ran out of the House.

That is not a point of order. We have been at this for a full hour. The Deputy should resume his seat.

I am not sitting down. I will continue.

Then the Deputy will have to leave the House.

I will not stop until the Order of Business continues.

Throw him out.

Obviously, the Deputy wants to leave the House.

No, I do not want to leave the House.

Deputy Kehoe has pointed out to the House that he intends to be disruptive and will not allow business to continue.

I am not being disruptive.

I am now calling on the Deputy to resume his seat or leave the House.

I am not leaving the House, a Cheann Comhairle.

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