Will the Taoiseach tell us why the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, could, last month, find time to address a private conference——

The Deputy has already spent a minute and a half on one question on a topical issue. I ask him to continue on that question.

I have responded to the slur——

We will not have a situation where any leader can come into the House and have two topical questions on the same day.

With respect, which I do not expect from the Chair——

I ask the Deputy to continue on the question he was on. The Deputy's two minutes are now concluded.

No.

Yes, Deputy.

Members of the Government, others on the Opposition benches and I have responded——

The Deputy is not entitled to spend two minutes on one question and then move to another.

I have verified the accuracy of our mandate and our intent to abide by it.

I have ruled leaders out of order before and I am sorry I have to rule the Deputy out today. The Deputy will have to find another way of raising those issues.

The Ceann Comhairle will not choose the question that I will put to the Taoiseach. With respect to the Ceann Comhairle——

The Deputy chose the question.

I chose the question and I will put it.

He has not put the question on the record.

I have not yet asked the question.

The Deputy has asked the question and spent two minutes on it.

I have not asked a question.

He should clarify what he has asked the Taoiseach.

I ask the Deputy to obey the ruling of the Chair.

No, I must say——

The Deputy knows the alternative.

I know what the Ceann Comhairle is doing, with respect.

The Deputy knows the rule——

This is not the first time the Ceann Comhairle has used his position——

——and just in case he has forgotten it——

I have a question to ask and I want the opportunity to ask it.

The Ceann Comhairle has allowed people in the past.

Standing Orders allow for a brief question on a matter of topical importance from the leader of the representatives——

Any other political leader whose party was being slighted in the way that the Ceann Comhairle has tolerated here would have the right to put the record straight and the Ceann Comhairle would not interrupt.

The Chair has ruled leaders out of order in the past.

Should the Deputy get some leeway?

The Chair has allowed them as well.

The Chair has not allowed them.

The Deputy should be asked to leave the Chamber.

I have a question for the Taoiseach and I ask for the opportunity to proceed. Will the Chair allow me to proceed?

No, we have already spent four minutes——

I am not allowed——

The Deputy should have asked his question.

With respect, I have the right to assert the integrity of my party in this House against any slur levelled against it. The record will prove that time and again

The Deputy does not have the right——

It is victimisation.

I will defend that right, not only on my own part, but on the part of any other representative of any other party or none in this Chamber. That is surely something which each of us is entitled to do.

The Deputy is absolutely correct but it should be done within the orders of the House, and it is not in order to do so on Leaders' Questions. One issue of topical importance is allowed on Leaders' Questions. Each leader has obeyed that ruling, and the Deputy has spent two minutes on the question.

I have not. I have probably spent two minutes trying to win my right to speak from the Ceann Comhairle.

We have gone on for five minutes.

The Deputy was interrupted.

I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

He was interrupted.

There is no point or purpose in arguing with the Ceann Comhairle.

The Deputy is absolutely right.

He has demonstrated his antipathy to this party and this representative time and again.

I resent that.

This is another example of it. It is a completely unfair and irrational ruling and I protest in the strongest possible terms.

The Deputy is entitled to protest. For the benefit of all Members, we are eight or nine minutes over time on Leaders' Questions. There has been a strict rule that one question can be raised. There cannot be a situation where each leader rises in turn to comment on the leader before them, or in some cases, the two leaders before them.

I am proud to represent in this Chamber——

There are ways of correcting the issue.

I have the right to reject the remark.

The Deputy does not have the right, and if he is not happy with Standing Orders he should change them.

The Ceann Comhairle has allowed that in this Chamber time and again, as have his predecessors.

I call the Taoiseach to respond to the Deputy's question.

The Ceann Comhairle brings no credit to the office he holds.