Could I seek the assistance of the Chair? Your private secretary was kind enough to inform me verbally that you had disallowed my Private Notice Question on a number of points. Could you furnish me in writing, at your earliest convenience, the reasons why you have disallowed my Private Notice Question to enable me to examine the reasons——
Business of Dáil.
I can tell Deputy Cluskey immediately that it is not usual to give written replies.
——and give consideration to how I may best pursue the content of the question within your interpretation of the Standing Orders of the House?
I will communicate with the Deputy in any helpful manner I can. Offhand, I can say that one of the criteria to which the question did not conform was that similar questions were asked last week. It is not usual to repeat questions. There are several reasons and I will have a look at the other ones. It is not usual to give a written explanation when Private Notice Questions are submitted. The person raising the question is free to discuss it with my office or to call to see me and discuss it with me.
Surely it is in order to request from the Chair the courtesy of a written explanation as to why my question was disallowed?
I will consider the matter. There was one particular occasion when a written explanation was given.
I wish to give you notice that it is my intention to raise on the Adjournment the continuing ban on fishing for herring by driftnet fishermen off the south coast.
I will communicate with the Deputy during the course of the afternoon.
It is self-preservation. The Minister is a red herring himself.