A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order, I ask the Taoiseach if he would be prepared to mediate on this impasse.
Order of Business (Resumed)
Sorry.
None of us in the Technical Group wants to have this disruption to the Dáil.
Sorry, would the Deputy please resume his seat? This is not a point of order.
We would appreciate if-----
It is not a point of order.
-----the Taoiseach were prepared to meet a number of members of the Technical Group-----
Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
-----to have our grievances explained to him and then we would agree to allow the Dáil to continue.
Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
I ask the Taoiseach, please-----
The Clerk of the Dáil has written to Deputy Catherine Murphy.
I am making an attempt-----
Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, I am making an attempt-----
Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
-----to form some sort of solution to this.
Would the Deputy please resume his seat? I have already spoken to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan and I explained everything to her.
I am making an appeal to the Taoiseach. I ask the Taoiseach if he would agree-----
Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan came to my office and I explained everything to her.
Will you allow the Taoiseach to respond?
It is nothing to do with the Taoiseach with the greatest of respect. This is a matter for the order of the House.
Will you allow the Taoiseach to respond?
Will you please resume your seat?
I am only asking you to allow the Taoiseach to respond.
I am asking the Deputy again.
So I can cut to the chase on this, I will not resume my seat.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
I will not resume my seat. Will the Taoiseach respond?
I ask the Deputy again to resume his seat. If he wishes to be thrown out, I will oblige him.
Will the Ceann Comhairle allow the Taoiseach to respond?
Will the Deputy resume his seat?
Will the Ceann Comhairle allow the Taoiseach to respond? This is not a dictatorship. It is just a reasonable request. We are trying to sort this out. We do not want this to continue like this. Will the Taoiseach facilitate a meeting with two members of the Technical Group?
I have dealt with this matter through Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. If the Deputy would like to consult her, she understands perfectly well what is involved.
It is a reasonable request. Will the Ceann Comhairle allow the Taoiseach to respond?
This is a matter for the Order of the House. It is not a matter for the Government.
Except that it was interpreted in a different way a year ago.
I am in the fortunate or unfortunate position to be dealing with this issue but it is a matter for Standing Orders and the Order of the House. The Deputy knows he is totally out of order.
As a mark of respect and in an attempt to defuse this situation, will the Ceann Comhairle please allow the Taoiseach to respond?
If the Deputy does not want to get himself removed from the House, I ask him once again to resume his seat.
I appeal to the Ceann Comhairle to allow the Taoiseach to respond to the question I have asked him on behalf of the Technical Group. It is a reasonable question. Whatever the Taoiseach says, I will agree with him.
It is not a matter for the Taoiseach.
I want to put one question to him on behalf of the Technical Group.
I endorse the Ceann Comhairle's comments, as a member of a group. Parliament should run Parliament. I mean no disrespect to anyone.
Yes. Will Deputy Halligan please resume his seat? I call Deputy Barry Cowen on the Order of Business.
I appeal to the Ceann Comhairle again to allow the Taoiseach to respond briefly.
The Deputy is obviously playing a few games.
I am not playing any game. I spoke to the Taoiseach earlier to defuse this situation.
If the Deputy does not resume his seat, I will ask him to leave the House.
None of us wants to be suspended from the Dáil. We have speaking time this week and we do not want to be suspended from the Dáil-----
I will ask the Deputy to leave the House if he does not resume his seat.
-----but we have to stand our ground-----
If the Deputy will not leave the House voluntarily, I will have to name him. Will he resume his seat?
The Ceann Comhairle is attempting to undermine the speaking time and rights of the Technical Group. He is attempting to appoint himself as chairperson of the Technical Group. We will not allow him to do that. I appeal to the Taoiseach to intervene in this and allow a meeting-----