On Friday last, 4th instant, the Ceann Comhairle was summoned to the Dáil Chamber to deal with an incident in which a Deputy had refused to obey the direction of the Chair, then occupied by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
The Deputy concerned had refused to obey the directions of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to withdraw an offensive remark directed towards a Minister.
Standing Order 51 empowers the Ceann Comhairle to name to the House for its decision a Deputy who refuses to obey the directions of the Chair, and the operation of this Standing Order is reserved to him in this connection. In accordance with the provisions of this Standing Order and the precedents arising from its operation, the offending Deputy should have been named to the House on this occasion for its decision on the report of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I regret I misdirected myself on the occasion and allowed the offending remark to be withdrawn by the Deputy concerned.
The Ceann Comhairle assumes the Chair to operate this particular Standing Order and that action on his part cannot be taken as affording an opportunity to an offending Deputy to assume an altered attitude towards the order and decorum of the House which that Deputy had earlier violated.
This statement is made to re-establish the regular position and to indicate that the method employed in dealing with the incident referred to cannot be taken as establishing a precedent.