Yesterday, I raised the issue of the refugee camp at Calais, known as the Jungle. I wish to raise it again this morning. I welcome that time is being provided next week for a debate on this matter. The Tánaiste will be aware of the crisis across Europe in terms of child refugees, some 10,000 of whom it is estimated have gone missing. Meanwhile we are seeing distressing scenes from Calais as the refugee camp is dismantled. As late as last night dozens of unaccompanied minors, child refugees, were left in the camp. Aid workers report that approximately 100 of them slept rough, many of whom were disorientated and wandering around on their own. I am appealing today to the Tánaiste and the Dáil as a whole to act collectively on this matter, by way of a common motion, specifically in respect of child refugees in Calais and that we resolve as an Oireachtas to move speedily to bring to safety 200 of those child refugees.

The Deputy's time has expired.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his forbearance. I will conclude on this point. On the last occasion that there was movement from the camp in Calais-----

This is not the time for speeches. I must ask the Deputy to resume her seat.

I will make this point. I am an elected parliamentarian and I will make my point and then I will resume my seat.

Excuse me, Deputy: resume your seat.

No, I will not resume my seat.

Resume your seat Deputy, please.

Do not speak to me like that, a Cheann Comhairle.

Please, Deputy, I am asking you to resume your seat.

I am about to finish.

Will you resume your seat?

No. I want to make an important point.

This is not the place to make points.

This is not the place to make points. In the name of goodness-----

The Deputy must ask a question.

All the Ceann Comhairle is doing is delaying the proceedings.

Excuse me, please. When the Chair is on its feet, will you please resume your seat?

I will not resume my seat.

That is disgraceful.

I will absolutely not resume my seat.

The Deputy has some history in this regard. Would you please-----

Yes, I do and I will have future history if the Ceann Comhairle persists in speaking to me like that. I was making the point-----

Let me explain.

-----on the issue of 200 children-----

Let me explain. Excuse me, Deputy. There is no special provision made in this House for you. The rules of the House apply equally to everyone.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

The rules of the House have been decided by the House. Those rules provide one minute to each Deputy for one question on promised legislation. That one minute was provided to you and you have had considerably more time.

I require time to utter approximately four more words to finish and sit down.

I am asking you to resume your seat.

I am asking to finish my sentence and then I will happily resume my seat.

Please resume your seat. Do not cause the House to be adjourned. I ask you to resume your seat.

I am sure the Tánaiste takes my point notwithstanding the Ceann Comhairle's extremely rude approach.

I am asking you to resume your seat. I will suspend the House if you do not.

The Business Committee decided that there would be discussions and statements on this topic next week, with a view to discussing the possibility of an all-party motion the following week. Like Deputy McDonald, I am appalled at the scenes from Calais. From our own point of view in terms of our commitment to refugees, a further 40 Syrian refugees will be arriving in Dublin Airport today.

We will meet in full the obligations we have made in the programme to which we have committed to take 4,000 primarily Syrian refugees. That work is continuing. We have officers who have just returned from the refugee camps and Greece and we are identifying young people in need of care and protection here. At European and international level, the programme has been delayed by various problems, primarily the fact that most refugees have moved onward to Sweden and other countries. We are now in a position, however, in which refugees are being identified who are coming to this State. By the end of the year, the number brought to Ireland will be close to 1,000 under both the relocation and resettlement programmes. I look forward to the debate in the House next week on this very important issue.