Before proceeding to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of motions under Standing Order 30 from Deputies John Bruton, Dick Spring and Proinsias De Rossa. I observe that these notices relate to the same subject matter and I propose, therefore, to call the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call, first, therefore Deputy John Bruton.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 30.
I hereby request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil pursuant to Standing Order 30 in order to discuss the denial by the Taoiseach in this House on Tuesday, 22 October 1991, that a private meeting took place involving himself and Mr. Bernie Cahill, on the privatisation of Irish Sugar having regard to the contents of a newspaper report in The Sunday Business Post of 27 October 1991 which states that such a meeting did, in fact, take place.
A Cheann Comhairle, I think I can anticipate your ruling on this matter so I will quite happily withdraw my notice of motion under Standing Order 30 but I hope the Taoiseach will take some opportunity to apologise for last week.
In accordance with Standing Order 30, I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest: the publication by The Sunday Business Post of a report that the Taoiseach had a meeting with the then chairman of the Irish Sugar Company on 26 May 1990 to discuss the privatisation of the company and the clear conflict which exists between this report and the statement made to the Dáil by the Taoiseach on Wednesday last in reply to questions in which he stated categorically that no such meeting had taken place. In view of the Taoiseach's total failure to give satisfactory answers here today to private notice questions, his failure to provide the House with the dates of the various meetings——
Please, Deputy; you may not elaborate.
——which he admits to having had, his failure to provide information on where those meetings were held or, indeed, on who was present at those meetings——
I am sorry, Deputy but the Deputy is deviating from the understanding we have in relation to these matters.
——and in view of the extreme urgency of this matter, I hope you will agree to this request.
Having considered the matters referred to by the Deputies I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 30. Therefore I cannot grant leave to move the motions. Riar na hOibre, Order of Business.
A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order——
On a point of order, I wish to move under Standing Order 143 that Standing Orders be suspended to enable this House to debate the matters raised in the course of questions raised with the Taoiseach and his failure to properly assure the House that he did not mislead the House.
The Deputy may not move such a motion in Government time. He may do so in Private Members' time.
We have not begun Government time yet.
I moved before Government time commenced, a Cheann Comhairle——
Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order——
Deputy De Rossa, I repeat that an ordinary Deputy may not move such a motion in Government time. You can only do so in Private Members' time.
We have not commenced Government time yet.
On a point of order, Sir——
That is the position. There is no point of order arising therefore.
On a point of order, may I draw your attention to Standing Order 143?
Would the Ceann Comhairle not agree that until the business is ordered it is not Government time, it is the time of the House and, therefore, Deputy De Rossa is perfectly in order in seeking to move the motion at this time?
No, it is not Private Members' time.
I protest, I am in order. Would the Taoiseach——
This is not Private Members' time and the motion cannot be moved. I am calling on the Taoiseach to move——
On a point of order——
No, Deputy. I have ruled on your point of order. You are not in order in moving such a motion now. The Deputy will now resume his seat.
You have not heard my point of order.
The Deputy will resume his seat. The Taoiseach.
Your ruling is a disgrace. I wish to move the suspension of the House under Standing Order 143.
It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 9, and 10. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House——
On a point of order, in view of the seriousness with which each Member of this House views the records of the proceedings of this House, I would ask you, a Cheann Comhairle, in your position as Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges——
That is a separate matter, Deputy. That is a separate matter altogether.
——if you intend raising at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges——
The Deputy I think is a member of that committee and if he wishes to convene such a meeting he may do so.
——the serious allegations which have been raised in The Sunday Business Post.
That is a matter for the Deputy and his party.
You have a duty to make sure that the record of this House is accurate.
That is a matter for the Deputy and his party, if they wish to have such a meeting the Chair will facilitate them.