On a point of order, this is very serious.

The Deputy cannot raise a point of order on the Order of Business.

We already asked the Tánaiste a question and the answer was completely inadequate. A deadline was set regarding the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. As such, how does the Government Chief Whip justify extending it? We must be very clear about this. The Ceann Comhairle was elected in a different way and we all welcomed that the Members of the House had a say individually in that regard. Now, we have a situation where a deadline of last Friday was set with regard to the submission of nominations for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. How can the Government Chief Whip justify extending that? What is the purpose? I have a clear question. Is it to allow further nominations to be submitted? Did the Government submit a nomination? Is it to facilitate Fine Gael that the time is being extended because it missed the deadline and wants to submit a nominee? That is totally wrong. This is not a good way to start politics. We all came into this in good faith and this is gerrymandering of the worst type. If a farmer in Kerry is late putting in an application for something, a deadline cannot be extended. The Government's answer when it misses the boat is to extend the deadline and push it out to facilitate itself. If I see the Government putting in a nominee, that will be a dirty start to its work. If it is going to do that, it is disgraceful and the people of Ireland will look very badly upon it. I take this very seriously. What the Government is doing is wrong. The other leaders who spoke today were not strong enough with the Government on this issue because what it is doing is a disgrace and people will not like the Government for it.

Deadlines are discussed at the Whip's office frequently and changed and adapted for a variety of reasons. This was never on the Order Paper and was not discussed at the Whips' meeting. The Chief Whip asked for an extension and it was granted by the Ceann Comhairle. That is the sequence of events, I understand.

Is it not?

That is not true.

Please resume your seat Deputy Healy-Rae and we will clarify that.

That is taking the Ceann Comhairle's integrity into doubt and I will not let that happen here.

We will clarify the matter.

I am defending you, a Cheann Comhairle.

Well thank you very much, but I will defend myself.

I know you are able to defend yourself, but I will be shoulder to shoulder with you.

Thank you.

This is a disgrace.

Will you please resume your seat?

Take that back, Tánaiste.

Will you please resume your seat? I make it absolutely clear that I had no discussions with anybody about the extension of the time; no discussions whatsoever with anybody.

My apologies, a Cheann Comhairle. I was led to understand that your office - perhaps it was not personal - had been contacted and the extension was agreed. That is the understanding of the Whip. If that is not accurate, I withdraw it.

Let us seek after the meeting here to get absolute clarity.

Absolutely. I am sure the House would appreciate that.

You are mistaken in both respects, I put it to you.

Yes.

The point-----

No, we need to move on.

To be fair, this is an important point.

Yes, but we must move on.

With the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence-----

No, I am not-----

I must make this point.

The Ceann Comhairle is not indulgent.

Let the record state that the Government did not put forward a nominee for the position. That is a fact.

Yet.

The Government missed the deadline and is extending it now to put forward a nominee. Let the public know that this is why it is doing this.

Deputy, please.

The Chief Whip failed to make the deadline, so the Government's answer is that there is no problem and that it will extend the deadline to facilitate itself. That is a disgrace and I hope that everyone in Ireland sees it for what it is.

If I may make it clear, the election of a Leas-Cheann Comhairle is a piece of business to be done in Government time. It is not a matter for the Ceann Comhairle to decide when or how it is transacted.

That is no good.

It is a matter for the Government to order the business, not the Ceann Comhairle or anyone else. Does the Tánaiste wish to say anything else?

Obviously, I would correct what I said in relation to the Ceann Comhairle's office. That was my understanding. This was never on the Order Paper and was not discussed by the Whips. I think that the points that are being made are not actually relevant-----

They are relevant.

-----because it had not been discussed or put on the Order Paper.

The deadline went by.