I am not aware of whether legislation exists in the area I raise or if it is possible to legislate or introduce a mechanism to do something the Taoiseach indicated he could not do when responding to Deputy Paul Murphy yesterday, namely, interfere in the judicial process of another country. Ibrahim Halawa's trial was deferred for the 20th time yesterday.

That matter is not relevant to the Order of Business.

The Ceann Comhairle tried to prevent Deputy Paul Murphy from discussing this issue yesterday.

It is not relevant to the Order of Business.

I have requested a Topical Issue debate on the case of Ibrahim Halawa three times this week. The Ceann Comhairle is trying to shut down discussion on the matter again. I do not understand why he is doing so.

The Deputy must resume her seat.

I am asking about legislation.

My responsibility is to enforce the rules of the House, which have been adopted by all Deputies.

Will the Deputy resume her seat, please?

I want to speak----

Will the Deputy resume her seat, please?

No, I will not resume my seat.

The Deputy will not resume her seat.

I will not.

That is an act of total-----

I am asking the Tánaiste about-----

The Deputy is not. That is an act of total disorder. I am asking her please to resume her seat.

Well then I am out of order. I want to ask the Tánaiste a question.

The Deputy is out of order. She should please resume her seat.

Ibrahim Halawa's trial was postponed for the 20th time. The man is very ill.

Please resume your seat.

I want to ask the Tánaiste a question about legislation-----

The House stands suspended in view of the fact the Deputy will not resume her seat.

We will resume. I call Deputy Mattie McGrath.

I have not asked a question.

It is not relevant. I have made a determination on that.

I have a question to ask about legislation. Is this section of business not on promised legislation?

Yes. If the Deputy has a question on legislation, I am quite happy.

I started by saying to the Tánaiste that I wanted to ask a question about legislation which I am not sure exists. However, could we find a mechanism to do what the Taoiseach said we could not do yesterday, which was to interfere in the judicial process of another country? In other words, can we do something about the imprisonment, the continued delay of the trial of, and illness of Ibrahim Halawa who is an Irish citizen?

The Deputy is trying-----

I am trying to find out-----

The Deputy is circumventing-----

-----if there is a legal mechanism that we can take. That is all.

I will ask the Deputy again to resume her seat.

Is the Tánaiste willing to answer me?

I will ask the Deputy to resume her seat, please.

Could the Ceann Comhairle ask the Tánaiste if she is willing to answer me?

I will ask the Deputy again to resume her seat. The rules of the House apply to the Deputy just as they apply to every one of the other 157 Members. There are no special rules for her.

But the Ceann Comhairle's interpretation of the rules has gone a bit beyond where it should. In this particular instance-----

Can I ask my question?

No, the Deputy cannot. Sit down.

We would like to ask questions as well.

The Deputy accused me earlier of suppressing a debate on a particular issue. I sought today to convene a meeting of the delegation that travelled to Cairo on the Halawa issue and only one Member was available to attend. I will not accept from her that I am trying to suppress a debate. I am implementing the rules of the House as they apply to her and everyone else.

The Ceann Comhairle used the word "suppress". What I said was that he tried to shut down Deputy Murphy yesterday-----

The Deputy should resume her seat. I am not having any further debate with her.

I am just asking a question of the Tánaiste.

The Deputy should please resume her seat.

Is there a possibility there is some legal mechanism, of which the Tánaiste can inform me, that the State can use to protect our citizen?

I am asking the Deputy to resume her seat.

I will not resume my seat. I will leave the House because I have another meeting to go to-----

Okay, I thank the Deputy.

-----but I protest at the way the Ceann Comhairle is treating me and, more importantly, the way he is treating the issue. It is disgraceful.

I will get my violin.

Deputy Mattie McGrath, please.