I call Deputy Barry Cowen.
Order of Business (Resumed)
A Cheann Comhairle, a number of attempts have been made to resolve this issue. Unfortunately, you have not taken them on board.
Sorry, Deputy, resume your seat. You are out of order.
A Cheann Comhairle, we have to raise this issue.
A Deputy
There is a forum for that. It is called the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Sorry, I am on my feet. Please resume your seat while I am on my feet.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. She came to my office and I explained everything to her in detail. In addition, I asked the Clerk of the Dáil to issue a letter to your Whip, which he did, outlining the Standing Orders and explaining everything. There is no discretion for me in respect of this matter. Any Member who is not a member of a party or a group is entitled to apply to be a member of a technical group. I do not have any discretion in that regard. The only thing-----
That is not what you said last year.
Let the Ceann Comhairle finish.
Have a little respect.
Do not shout me down. The only thing they have to do is formally notify me. The two Deputies in question have formally notified me. That is it. I cannot do any more than that. It is now a matter to be resolved by others. I ask that in the interests of parliamentary democracy Members now allow the business of the Dáil to proceed.
(Interruptions).
Resume your seat and let us get on with the business of the day. I again call Deputy Barry Cowen.
A Cheann Comhairle, we have tried over the last three and a half years in the interests of democracy to resolve these issues in regard to the organisation of the Technical Group.
Sorry, I cannot resolve anything.
This has been refused by yourself on numerous occasions. It has been refused by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and-----
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges is the forum in which to try to resolve these difficulties. They cannot be resolved on the floor of the House.
-----the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We have been brought to this point because you have refused-----
Deputy Pringle, I would ask you please to respect the Chair and-----
-----at all points to actually engage with the Technical Group in relation to resolving these issues. You have not treated the Technical Group in a fair manner when dealing with these issues.
I again ask Deputy Pringle to resume his seat.
We are not going to resume our seats in relation to this matter.
Deputy, I am asking you again to resume your seat.
I am not going to resume my seat. You have had ample opportunity to resolve these issues.
I must ask the Deputy to leave the House.
We have sought legal opinion on this matter.
We have attempted on numerous occasions, including today, to resolve these issues.
(Interruptions).