I move: "That Deputy De Rossa be suspended from the service of the Dáil."
Suspension of Member.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 70; Níl, 20.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies V. Brady and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies Byrne and McCartan.
Question declared carried.
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Tá |
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Ahern, Dermot.Ahern, Michael.Andrews, David.Aylward, Liam.Barrett, Michael.Brady, Gerard.Brady, Vincent.Brennan, Mattie.Briscoe, Ben. Davern, Noel.Dempsey, Noel.Dennehy, John.de Valera, Síle.Ellis, John.Fahey, Jackie.Flood, Chris.Flynn, Pádraig.Gallagher, Pat the Cope.Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.Harney, Mary.Haughey, Charles J.Hillery, Brian.Hilliard, Colm.Hyland, Liam.Jacob, Joe.Kelly, Laurence.Kenneally, Brendan.Kirk, Séamus.Kitt, Michael P.Kitt, Tom.Lawlor, Liam.Lenihan, Brian.Leonard, Jimmy.Leyden, Terry.Lyons, Denis. |
Browne, John (Wexford).Calleary, Seán.Callely, Ivor.Clohessy, Peadar.Connolly, Ger.Coughlan, Mary Theresa.Cowen, Brian.Cullimore, Séamus.Daly, Brendan. Martin, Micheál.McCreevy, Charlie.McDaid, Jim.McEllistrim, Tom.Molloy, Robert.Morley, P.J.Nolan, M.J.Noonan, Michael J.(Limerick West).O'Connell, John.O'Dea, Willie.O'Donoghue, John.O'Keeffe, Ned.O'Kennedy, Michael.O'Leary, John.O'Rourke, Mary.O'Toole, Martin Joe.Power, Seán.Quill, Máirín.Roche, Dick.Stafford, John.Wallace, Dan.Wallace, Mary.Walsh, Joe.Wilson, John P.Woods, Michael.Wyse, Pearse. |
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Níl |
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Byrne, Eric.De Rossa, Proinsias.Ferris, Michael.Gilmore, Eamon.Gregory, Tony.Higgins, Michael D.Howlin, Brendan.Kavanagh, Liam.Kemmy, Jim.McCartan, Pat. |
Moynihan, Michael.O'Sullivan, Gerry.O'Sullivan, Toddy.Pattison, Séamus.Rabbitte, Pat.Ryan, Seán.Sherlock, Joe.Spring, Dick.Stagg, Emmet.Taylor, Mervyn. |
Deputy De Rossa withdrew from the Chamber.
I wish to protest in the strongest possible way at this decision. It is a long time since the Leader of one of the parties in this House had to leave the House for trying to set the record straight.
Deputy McCartan must not frustrate the decision of this House.
It is a regrettable day for the parliamentary procedures in this House when a person who tries to set the record straight is ordered to leave the House while the person responsible for——
Deputy McCartan will now resume his seat.
I intend to stay here to ensure that no more untruths are told. The Chair provides no protection for people who tell the truth in this House.
(Interruptions.)
I have ruled many times on this matter of attributing the term "liar" to a Member of this House. I will not condone it.
It should never be invited, particularly by a Government Whip coming in and blatantly misrepresenting the facts.
The Deputy should resume his seat.
He had no agreement from this party or my office to the arrangements he introduced here on the basis that——
The Deputy is seeking to compound the insult.
It is not the first time and, no doubt, it will not be the last time——
Please, Deputy McCartan——
The other point I should like to make while I am on my feet is that I see great indulgence from you to other Members who seek to protest their innocence in the House. The rush with which Deputy De Rossa, a group leader, was ordered to leave is regrettable. He did no more than set the record straight.
Deputy McCartan, I gave your leader every opportunity of retracting but he failed to do so. He compounded the matter by saying he would not leave the House.
That is a protest he would make——
It is, I think, without precedent that a party leader should be asked to leave the House.
No, I was asked to go.
I did seek suspension of Standing Orders to allow——
(Interruptions.)
I make the point that it would have been better had you allowed me my point of order earlier, when I would have suggested that the House be suspended for five minutes to allow tempers to cool. This Bill has been a shambles, when a Government——
Please, Deputy——