The Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I desire to report to you that on the Adjournment Debate last night Deputy Patrick Smith, on being adjudged guilty of gross disorder by the Chair, was directed by the Chair to withdraw from the House. This he refused to do and continued to behave in a gross and disorderly manner necessitating the adjournment of the House without allowing the Minister who was in possession to be heard.

I name Deputy Smith.

Is no one else to be named?

Has the Leas-Cheann Comhairle any other report to make to the Chair concerning disorder affecting any other Deputy?

I move that Deputy Smith be suspended from the service of the House.

I beg to second that proposition.

That is good.

I was not here myself last night but, according to Press reports and information given to me by other Deputies, there was a great deal of disorder——

There was.

——in which a number of Deputies were concerned. It seems to me to be a dereliction of duty on the part of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle not to report any other Deputy.

Is it not a fact that every effort was made to prevent Deputy Cogan from putting his case to the House?

I am putting the question that Deputy Smith be suspended from the service of the House.

May I inquire if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has any other report to make to the Chair?

I have got no other report.

May I point out that, according to reports in the Press, there was considerable disorder in the Dáil last night and apparently the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is only taking notice of disorder on one side of the House?

If the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is to be impeached, it must be done by a motion.

We will consider that, because there seems to me to have been a completely partisan administration by the Chair last night.

I cannot listen to any more remarks on the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Did the Leas-Cheann Comhairle report to you that Deputies left their seats on the other side and crossed the floor of the House?

That is not correct.

The Ceann Comhairle should inquire from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on the matter.

It is not my duty to do so. The Minister was refused a hearing last night.

So was Deputy Cogan.

The Minister was not the only person refused a hearing.

The Chair might be given one now. The Minister was refused a hearing last night. The Minister is entitled to a hearing in this House.

So are Deputies; just as much entitled as the Minister.

The Chair is entitled to a hearing and is not going to get it, apparently. The Minister is entitled to a hearing and the Minister did not get it. I propose that he gets ten minutes now.

He will not get it, as far as we are concerned.

(from the Lobby): The Minister lied last night. What about that?

Are you there still?

May I point out, a Chinn Chomhairle, that I was interested in some of the questions dealing with this matter? Due to the attitude of some of the members on the Government Benches last night when Deputy Cogan was speaking, he could not finish——

On a point of order——

(from the Lobby): Listen to Pontius Pilate.

He could not finish in time to allow me any time. May I press for time also to express my views clearly?

Deputy Smith should leave the precincts of the House. By a vote of the House, his services have been dispensed with.

Go on, Pat.

He does not want to go now.

(from the Lobby): I am out of the House.

On a point of order——

Deputy Smith must leave the precincts of the House.

Go on out.

(from the Lobby): You put me out.

Deputy Smith has not left the precincts of the House.

Call the Sergeant-at-Arms.

I think the Chair knows its own business and needs no prompting.

The Chair has stated that Deputy Smith must leave the precincts of the House. That is clear. He has not done so.

I adjourn the House for a quarter of an hour, to give Deputy Smith a chance of obeying the ruling of the House.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.55 a.m. and resumed at 11.10 a.m.

I propose to call on the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs after Question Time and to allow him ten minutes. In the meantime, I would ask Deputies to consider seriously whether it is not for the good name of this House and for the preservation of order in it that the Minister should get a hearing.

There are rules and Standing Orders governing the procedure of this House, and, within these rules, it is possible for the Minister to get an opportunity to make a statement. So far as I am aware, there is no Standing Order which permits the Minister to intervene to make a statement without the consent of the House. If the question of consent arises, I think that not merely should the Minister get an opportunity, but other Deputies, who were denied an opportunity to make a statement on the Adjournment last night, should get that opportunity.

If the Minister made a statement and one other Deputy was allowed five minutes, would that meet the objection?

I will consider that, Sir, and let you know.