I want to raise the matter of some questions I put down to the Taoiseach. If you will bear with me, you will see the point I am trying to make. I asked the Taoiseach if the Government had any plans to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne. I also asked if he was meeting relatives of those people shot in Gibraltar and helping them with legal action in the European Court and whether he would make a statement in that regard. I asked if he had instructed the Secretary of the Department of Health to ask the acting chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board to resign. I asked——

Please, Deputy Barry. The Deputy knows that this is not in order.

If you will bear with me——

The Deputy will have ample time to raise those questions but he must proceed in the ordinary way in dealing with the matter.

These are matters on which the Taoiseach and the Government can reply——

I am calling the Order of Business. The Taoiseach.

Excuse me, Sir, I——

The Deputy is out of order in raising these matters now.

I am not, Sir, if you will bear with me. You transferred these questions from the Taoiseach but they are clearly within his knowledge to answer.

That is not a function of the Chair.

It is a matter for the House of the Oireachtas for which you are responsible. You transferred those questions from the Taoiseach, although he clearly has a responsibility to answer them in this House.

That is not the function of the Ceann Comhairle of this House and never has been.

Then why did you write to me? You are responsible for the office of the House of the Oireachtas and I will not tolerate the Taoiseach being protected in this manner in the future.

Deputy Barry, you are a man of great experience in this House.

That is what makes me so cross about what has happened. It has not previously happened in my 20 years here.

You have made allegations against the Chair which are utterly unfounded. I would ask you to reconsider your position. What you allege against me is completely untrue and unfounded. It cannot be substantiated. I must ask that it be withdrawn.

You transferred those questions.

That is not a function of the Chair.

You are responsible for the House of the Oireachtas and for transferring those questions.

I repeat that this has never been a function of the Ceann Comhairle of this House. The allegation you are making is unfounded and untrue. Be man enough to withdraw or leave the House.

I will certainly do that. I object vigorously to what has happened in this House recently.

Deputy Barry withdrew from the Chamber.