A Cheann Comhairle-----

I am sorry, Deputy.

On behalf of the Technical Group, I ask you to exercise discretion to allow us to raise this matter.

Please resume your seat. You wrote to me about this issue. The Standing Orders do not allow for a Member from the Technical Group to make a statement.

Why not?

It is because the Standing Orders, which are approved by the House, do not allow for it.

Change the Standing Orders.

Therefore, I suggest - I will be writing to the Deputy - that the matter be dealt with at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

I call the Taoiseach.

I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but I cannot accept that.

Well you will have to accept it whether you like it or not.

There is adequate discretion available to the Ceann Comhairle.

Would you please resume your seat?

The Ceann Comhairle can ask permission of the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe.

I am not in a position to allow this. Would the Taoiseach please reply?

I have asked the Taoiseach about it.

Would you please respect the Chair?

Discretion is allowed so as not to gag the Technical Group.

The Deputy should put forward an amendment to Standing Orders at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. That is all she has to do.

I have tried to get it changed.

I do not want to ask the Deputy to leave the House but if she persists in ignoring the Chair I will have to do so. She should please resume her seat.

One third of the Opposition should not be gagged like this.

You never brought this matter up before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, where it should be brought.

I have brought it up repeatedly.

Thank you. I call the Taoiseach.

I put it in writing and it was blocked repeatedly.

It has been ignored.

Please proceed, Taoiseach.

I have tried to get it changed.

It ill behoves-----

Would you resume your seat?

I brought it up repeatedly. I put it in writing but it was blocked at any location I raised it.

I know the Deputy is angling to get herself thrown out, but would she please respect the Chair?

It is up to you to give us the discretion.

I do not have the discretion.

You have.

I do not have the discretion. Would you put down a motion for a change in Standing Orders?

Of course you have the discretion.

Would you resume your seat and do not be making a show of the House?

No, I will not resume my seat.

Then I will ask the Deputy to leave the House. She has totally ignored the Chair, so she should please leave the House.

It is absolutely wrong to be blocked.

Would you please leave the House?

I will not accept that Deputies are being gagged in this way.

Deputy Murphy should not be treated like this.

You just mind your business. I am asking Deputy Murphy to leave the House.

Deputy Murphy is a reasonable, moderate Deputy and has not caused any difficulty here.

It is par for the course. This is a blatant power grab by the Government. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, can change the regulations, so he should do it.

As the Deputy is ignoring my request, I wish to name Deputy Catherine Murphy and I move that she be suspended from the service of the House. Is that agreed?

No.

Nobody should support that.