Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 9

Adjournment Debate Matters.

An Ceann Comhairle

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to me under Standing Order 20 (3) (a) and the name of the Member in each case: (1)Deputy Aylward — the proposed closure of Woodsgift post office in Urlingford, North Kilkenny; and (2) Deputy Ryan — the long delay in the placement, in a suitable long stay hospital-home, of a severely disabled person (details supplied) who is suffering from familial cerebellar ataxia and who is in a very poor and deteriorating condition in York House.

I have selected for discussion the matter raised by Deputy Ryan.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

On a point of order——

An Ceann Comhairle

Will you allow me to proceed to the Order of Business and I will then permit the Deputy to raise the point of order?

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

It is in relation to an earlier matter.

An Ceann Comhairle

Which I ruled out of order.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

It is a point of order I wish to make.

An Ceann Comhairle

I hope the Deputy is not raising a matter which I have ruled out of order unreservedly.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

The point of order arises from your ruling that my colleague could not raise an issue because it impinged on the office of the President.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is right. That is the matter I ruled out of order.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I want to raise a point of order.

An Ceann Comhairle

No, you may not.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

Is it not in order for a Member of this House to raise a point of order?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy O'Keeffe, I have ruled matters appertaining to the Presidency out of order at this juncture.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I do not want to raise anything in relation to the Presidency. I do not want to raise a substantive issue. I want to raise a point of order. Am I not entitled to do so?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy, proceed with a point of order. I cannot permit the obstruction of the Business of the House.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I am not obstructing anything. If you will let me I want to make a point of order. My colleague was ruled out of order by you; that is your entitlement. I want to raise the following issue: if not the Taoiseach, who or which Department or Government has the responsibility to answer questions relating to the President? That is the point of order I wish to make.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is clearly challenging the ruling of the Chair in this matter.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

That is ridiculous.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Shatter

The President is an elected Office.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let me make this matter clear as from this moment. It is a long standing rule of Dáil Éireann that the Presidency should be outside and above debate in this House.

Mr. Shatter

Agreed.

An Ceann Comhairle

I cannot and will not allow the Office of the President to become the subject of controversy on the Floor of the House. That is the clear statement I wish to make and I will allow no further reference to the Presidency.

(Interruptions.)