Last Saturday night in Cork, a young woman was assaulted and hospitalised. On Tuesday, not five minutes' walk from here, on St. Stephen's Green, a 50-year-old woman was assaulted and hospitalised. I send solidarity to all who will assemble at Custom House Quay tonight to mark the one-year anniversary of the death by violence of Ms Urantsetseg Tserendorj. I hope I have correctly pronounced her name.

Last Sunday morning, gardaí called to the home of Limerick woman, Ms. Aislinn O'Keeffe, serving her with a court order. What was her crime? She is the alleged organiser of a tiny, socially distant stand-out protest organised in March 2021 by the ROSA group to protest gender-based violence in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard. She is due to appear in Limerick District Court on 25 February. I put it to the Tánaiste that it is a very bad look for this State to prosecute women standing up to violence against women. The Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, and the Garda should have better things to be doing with their time.

No, Deputy. There is a separation of powers in this State. We cannot and will not become involved in criticism of the DPP or the Courts Service. Resume your seat.

The decision of the DPP-----

Resume your seat, Deputy.

-----and the Courts Service is a disgrace.

Resume your seat. You are totally out of order.

I am asking the Tánaiste to reply.

You are totally out of order. The Tánaiste should please not go near that question.

May we hear a reply from the Tánaiste?

No, you will not hear a reply.

The Tánaiste-----

Resume your seat. You are out of order.

Until the Tánaiste responds-----

Resume your seat. You are out of order.

-----I will not resume my seat.

You will not. Is that correct?

No, I will not. It is a legitimate question.

It is not a legitimate question.

There are many women out there in Irish society and people opposed to gender-based violence.

Resume your seat. We are not going to-----

They would like to know if the DPP and Garda do not have anything better to do with their time.

We are not going to abandon the principle of separation of powers. If you have even a basic understanding of how this parliamentary democracy works, you will understand the concept of division of powers. Will the Deputy do the right thing and resume his seat?

Briefly, a Cheann Comhairle-----

Do not bother saying anything. Just resume your seat.

I have more than a basic understanding of what is right and proper. It is a matter the Tánaiste could comment on, broadly speaking. I ask that he do so.

Does the Tánaiste wish to comment?

No.

The Tánaiste is a wise man. Deputy Cathal Berry from the Regional Group is next. Deputy Barry should resume his seat.

This is a disgrace, a Cheann Comhairle.

Resume your seat.

What gardaí did in Limerick on Sunday was a disgrace.

Do you want me to-----

It is not the last time this will be raised. I am putting the Ceann Comhairle on notice of that.

Do you want me to suspend the sitting of the House? Please, just respect the normal, democratic parliamentary procedures. It is all we are asking you to do.

It will be raised again.

Not if I am here.