I would like to interrupt the Senator to permit the Leader of the House to make a statement.
Business of Seanad.
On the Order Paper today there was a statement that the Committee of Selection would meet at 4 p.m. to select the joint committees of both Houses. Unfortunately, we were not able to conclude our business because the Independent group were not present at that meeting to give the names of their selected people. We could have gone ahead and selected other people, but we have adjourned that meeting to 11 o'clock tomorrow morning.
On that particular point, the Independent group would like to put it formally on the record of the House to let it be known, as it has already been brought to the notice of the authorities, that we were not informed of that meeting at any time. I regret the fact that the committee did not go ahead and fill the vacant seats——
Acting Chairman
The matter may not be debated here.
A comment was made. I have been misrepresented enough in this House today. I am aware that it is on the Order of Business——
A meeting of the Committee of Selection——
Acting Chairman
I am asking both Senators to sit down when I stand up. A statement by the Leader of the House cannot be debated.
Are you saying, Chairman, that comments can be made about a group of persons or representatives in this House by the Leader of the House at any time and that it may not be responded to?
Acting Chairman
No, I am not saying that, but they can be responded to at another time.
There is never another time. We keep raising those particular issues. To dispose of the matter, I accept the fact that we should have been at that meeting because it is on the Order Paper. I am just making the case that we were not informed officially. I also want to put on record that we have now given the names to the Committee of Selection and they need not adjourn, they now have the full list of names. I am not going to read it into the House but I want to say that the veiled threat that they wanted to go ahead——
Acting Chairman
The matter will have to be settled outside the House and, if you wish to make a statement in reply, I am sure you can look for permission to do that.
The Senator says there was no communication to him.
Acting Chairman
The Senator is now inviting debate.
It is on the record of the House today that that meeting would take place at 4 p.m. It is also on the Order Paper for today. May I say that the representative of the Independent group was informed that that meeting would take place. I made a statement today in the House, it is on the Order Paper and I will not allow aspersions to be cast on me.
You are ruling, Chairman, that the Leader of the House can come back and make another statement?
Acting Chairman
The Leader of the House has made a statement and it cannot be debated.
And he has made a second one, which I reject out of hand. I am sorry he did not fill the committees without us. I can assure him that it is no favour to anybody.
I did make a statement on the Order of Business.