asked the Minister for Lands the reason for the delay in opening new bog supplies and in having roads constructed to them at Devlin, Glenveagh, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Bogs.
51.
The Land Commission have been negotiating for some time past for the voluntary purchase of a 230 acre bog at Devlin from the owner. These discussions are continuing and development and disposal of the turbary must, of course, depend on the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
Perhaps if the Minister would increase his offer they might come to an immediate conclusion.
No doubt, if they were given £1 million, they would accept it.
Are we not trying to give somebody else £1 million today?
(Interruptions.)
If you ask Cassius Clay up there to leave, Sir, we might proceed more easily.
You look more like Cassius Clay than he does.
Is it in order, Sir, for a Deputy in the rear benches to hurl insults at everybody and then invite them out to fight?
Since Question Time started, Sir, Deputy Leneghan has been continually hurling abuse at everybody who asked a question.
Who was sent in here to create disorder last night?
What about the man every judge said perjured himself?
I am called on to reply to a question, Sir.
I shall be asking a question about that dirtbird over there when you are finished.
(Interruptions.)
I shall ask for an inquiry about that.
The term "dirtbird" must be withdrawn.
What else is he if he makes the kind of allegations he made last night? He is a dirtbird.
The Deputy will either withdraw the remark or leave the House.
If I must withdraw it, I will; but I am not withdrawing my demand for an inquiry into it.
The Deputy will withdraw the words without qualification?
I will.
The Deputy repeated them in his withdrawal.
I withdraw but there is nothing in what he said. He will not get away with his allegations last night.
I notice Deputy Leneghan did not invite out Deputy Harte.
You would not be elected in your own constituency like your Leader.
(Interruptions.)
I raise this as a serious matter of order, Sir. Since Question Time started today, every Deputy from this side of the House who asked a question has been subjected to virulent abuse from Deputy Leneghan.
You are a right one to talk about abuse.
I ask you to take note of that fact, Sir.
(Interruptions.)
Perhaps the Chair would be allowed to say something sometime. Any matter of disorder that came to my notice, I have dealt with immediately. I do not know whether any Deputy in the back seats has been hurling what have been termed insults, and so on, at the Front Bench of the Fine Gael Party. I did not hear them.
The most scandalous allegations are being made here behind my back, Sir.
(Interruptions.)
Will you hold your tongues and behave yourselves?
That is an unctuous performance after last night.
You tried to destroy Parliament before.
(Interruptions.)
If this does not end, I shall adjourn the House.
Before you adjourn the House, Sir, might I say, as one who has never been charged with saying anything unparliamentary——
There is not anything before the House.
We have privilege in this House and it has been used.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat? Question No. 52.