It is regrettable that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has cast aspersions on the character of persons in the House before a tribunal established by this House has made any comment.

He has not.

The Ceann Comhairle should be seen to ensure fairness for every Member of the House. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, who knows the rules on Leaders' Questions, should withdraw that remark until such time as the body established by this House does its business.

The Minister should be a man.

I am not aware of which remark the Deputy is referring to.

Will Deputy Rabbitte withdraw his remarks?

My question is for—

Before Deputy Sargent commences, I suggest for the benefit of Members of the House that if all Members obeyed the Standing Order relating to Leaders' Questions we would not have the arguments that we have had on the floor of the House this morning. They should confine themselves to one topic on which the Standing Order is quite specific. It allows a brief question on a matter of topical public importance to the leaders of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the designated leader of the Technical Group. No other topic is allowed and Deputies should not introduce other topics to the question, in which case we might not have the row we have had on the floor of the House this morning.

Will the Ceann Comhairle inform the Cabinet of that?

My question is of interest to Deputy Dermot Ahern.

Why is the Ceann Comhairle lecturing us about that?

I am not lecturing anybody. I am lecturing both sides.

We were all interrupted, yet the Ceann Comhairle lectures this side of the House. Why?

Deputy Rabbitte, the Chair is not lecturing anybody. The Chair is merely pointing out the Standing Order because this morning the Deputy himself went beyond the Standing Order by introducing a second matter.

I think it was the interruption from Deputy Dermot Ahern that was the problem.

On a point of order—

The Deputy cannot have a point of order on Deputy Sargent's question.

On a point of order, the understanding in this House is that the Ceann Comhairle is there to protect us as parliamentarians.

The Chair does that.

There was an unprovoked and unwarranted attack on another Member.

That is not a point of order. The Deputy will have to find another way.

You have not defended a Member of this House, as is your duty.

I hope the Ceann Comhairle will remind Deputy Ahern that it is inappropriate to windsurf in the Chamber, as he seems to be doing.

Or to sail close to the wind.