Before the Taoiseach answers the first question on the Order Paper I should like to state that I put down a question last week for oral answer by the Taoiseach today asking him what Ministers would be going to the United States for St. Patrick's Day and what they would be doing there. The Chair refused the question and transferred it to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for answer on 23 March. What use will the answer be to me on 23 March in relation to St. Patrick's Day?
Business of Dáil.
This is ridiculous.
They would be wiser with hindsight.
Irrespective of who deals with the question I have no function in relation to that matter, no function whatever.
The letter I received was from the General Office and I believe that is under the responsibility of the Chair. This is absolutely ridiculous. I put down a question to be answered by the Taoiseach as this matter is part of his responsibility as Head of the Government. You transferred it to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to be answered after St. Patrick's Day although I want information before St. Patrick's Day. You and I are not seeing eye to eye at all about Question Time.
That is obvious.
It is quite obvious.
(Limerick East): Will the Taoiseach tell us the position now?
I can offer informally to give the Deputy personally the information he is looking for.
I am thankful to the Taoiseach for that friendly gesture but as an elected representative I have rights in this House and one of those is the right to put down a question——
I am not intervening in that.
——and expect it to be answered by the person concerned. I do not wish to fall out with the Ceann Comhairle again but I must say that the transfer of a question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs——
The Ceann Comhairle does not transfer questions.
To transfer a question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs knowing that it cannot be answered before the date for which I want the information is ridiculous.
That is not the function of the Chair.