Over the last number of days the Tánaiste has been asked about the O'Higgins report and the legal direction given by the Garda Commissioner on behalf of an Garda Síochána to her legal representatives. On each occasion she has steadfastly refused to answer very straightforward questions to which the public interest demands answers. I noted that yesterday she indicated that the Commissioner might make further information available in the public domain. So far that has not happened. I therefore ask her again to tell the Dáil whether or not she has received clarity on the instructions given by the Commissioner to her legal team regarding Sergeant McCabe-----

Deputy McDonald, sorry-----

This is the Order of Business.

The Deputy understands perfectly well-----

Yes.

-----that this is the Order of Business, not Leaders' Questions, so the question she is posing is not appropriate in the circumstances-----

I tell the Ceann Comhairle what I also understand, if I might put it to him this way. In her last response the Tánaiste indicated, as we know, that we will have a debate on the O'Higgins report next week.

Yes.

She also said quite correctly that it is a very lengthy document, running to some 370 pages, and of course Members will wish to examine all matters in that report very thoroughly. In the meantime-----

Yes, but the Deputy is now taking time of which her fellow Members want to avail under the Order of Business, and what she is raising is not appropriate-----

Bar this interruption, I would have completed what I had to say and put the question-----

Yes, but she would have done so incorrectly because it is not appropriate for her to raise this matter under the Order of Business, so either the Deputy raises something that is relevant to the Order of Business or she resumes her seat because I will not ask the Tánaiste to respond to this matter.

This is relevant, Ceann Comhairle. I ask whether the Tánaiste, working on the assumption that she will put the questions to the Commissioner, will at least receive responses from the Commissioner-----

The Deputy is attempting to frustrate the order of the House. We have a process and a procedure. The Deputy knows perfectly well that what she is trying to introduce is contrary to Standing Orders. Please, I am asking her not to proceed.

Can I ask the Tánaiste to publish responses that she will get, one presumes, from the Garda Commissioner for the information of the Dáil Deputies in advance of the debate next week?

I thank the Deputy.