On a question of procedure, I addressed a question to the Minister for Transport and Power which you, Sir, refused to allow on the Order Paper, with relation to the implementation of the provisions of the Transport Act, 1958. I cannot see any valid reason for refusing this question which asked the Minister whether he was aware——
Business of Dáil.
I cannot allow my ruling to be questioned in this fashion. If the Deputy wants to question my ruling, he can do so in the correct fashion, but I cannot allow him to do it in this fashion.
With due respect to you, I asked a question last week——
I cannot allow the Deputy to proceed in this fashion.
——by means of which I wanted to raise a matter affecting my constituents——
The Deputy will resume his seat. He will not question the authority of the Chair in this fashion.
I suggest the Chair is sheltering, by refusing requests like this——
I am not sheltering anyone or anything. The Deputy will resume his seat.
I protest at your ruling.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
Am I to assume that you will not allow me to elaborate further on this matter?
I am calling the next business: Estimates for Public Services.
Will the Ceann Comhairle give us a ruling as to why he allows some questions and does not allow others?
I have answered the Deputy already in this matter.
You allow some questions if it suits the Minister to reply but, if it does not suit Ministers to reply, the questions are disallowed. That is how you rule in these matters.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to raise the subject matter of Question No. 8 on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.