I seek the advice and assistance of the Chair with regard to Private Notice Question I sought to put to the Taoiseach regarding an initiative being taken by the Minister for Post and Telegraphs——

The Deputy has already been notified that the question did not conform to the criteria required for a Private Notice Question.

I am seeking the advice and assistance of the Chair.

That is not usual.

I submitted a question yesterday on the same subject which the Chair ruled out of order and, although I could not see the validity of the ruling, I accepted it. I conformed with the part of the Chair's ruling yesterday which ruled my question out of order and submitted a further question regarding the continuing of the Post Office dispute today. I asked the Taoiseach to instruct the Minister to meet the officials of the Post Office Workers Union——

The Deputy is using this opportunity to ask a question which was ruled out of order and I will not permit that.

This is only a gimmick.

Surely the criteria in relation to such matters is the urgency and importance of the question? Undoubtedly, a question in relation to this dispute meets that criteria. I cannot understand the ruling of the Chair, and I would like the Chair to give me an explanation for ruling it out of order yesterday and today.

The Deputy can ascertain that information without raising the matter in the House.

On two occasions I sought permission to raise this matter of great national importance which is doing irreparable damage to our economy and causing great social concern. Surely I am entitled to an explanation as to why the Chair made such a ruling?

The Deputy must discontinue trying to raise questions which are ruled out of order.

The Chair must have some obligation to the House.

The Chair is not obliged to give any explanation for a matter which has already been explained. This is being used as a strategy at Question Time to ask questions which have been disallowed.

These matters are being dealt with behind closed doors and that will not happen any longer.

The Chair will not be dictated to by the Deputy or by anybody else on a ruling.

The Chair has given some extraordinary rulings of late.

That is the Deputy's opinion. The rulings of the Chair have been correct.

I am seeking an explanation for a ruling and surely a Deputy is entitled to that.

The Deputy is aware that questioning a ruling is only another means of asking the question.

The Chair gave a reason for ruling the question out of order yesterday and in submitting another question today I took that reason into consideration, but again the Chair ruled it out of order. I want the Taoiseach or the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to try to resolve this dispute.

The Deputy gets cheap publicity every day.

He has contempt for the House.

Will the Chair give the reason for ruling my question out of order.

The Deputy should resume his seat.

This is a matter of national importance.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Get the country moving.

Is the Chair saying that the Post Office dispute is not a matter of national importance?

I have already ruled out a question which is a continuing matter and is not suitable as a Private Notice Question. The Chair will not be dictated to.

The Government should make some attempt to resolve the Post Office dispute.

There is nothing to stop the Deputy putting down his question for oral answer.

We must ensure that the commercial and social life of the country continues.

I am under the impression that my Private Notice Question meets the criteria in that it is of grave national importance and urgency——

Every Deputy who puts down a Private Notice Question thinks the same but the Chair does not always agree.

Is the Chair saying that this is not a matter of national importance?

I am saying it is not a suitable question for Private Notice——

On the basis that it is not of national importance? Is that what the Chair is saying?

It is a continuing matter which can be put down as an ordinary question.

The same could be said of every other question on the Order Paper.

Nonsense.

This party regard this matter as being of grave national importance and we regard the inactivity of the Taoiseach and the Government, particularly the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, as a national disgrace.

Nice headlines for tonight.

Surely it is a matter of national importance that every post office in the country is closed?

Is the Minister going to do something?

Does Deputy White wish to ask a question?

I would like to raise on the Adjournment the vital importance of the retention of jobs in the Killybegs boatyard, County Donegal.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Would the Chair kindly give me an explanation why my question was ruled out of order?

I am asking the House to please get on with business.

Sir, have——

I have already told the Deputy that the Chair does not consider that the question fulfils the conditions that would make it suitable for Private Notice. It may be put down as an ordinary notice question because it deals with a continuing matter.

Is the Chair stating it is not a matter of urgency and national importance?

It is not a suitable question for Private Notice.

Is it not a matter of——

The Chair will not be cross-questioned further in this matter.

What are the criteria?