The Tánaiste, the Taoiseach's partner in government and leader of Fine Gael, needs to make a statement to the Dáil regarding his party's investigation into Senator Martin Conway for inappropriate behaviour towards a female staff member. We know there was an investigation by Fine Gael; what we do not know-----

Excuse me, Deputy, yesterday we had this conversation about making allegations against other Deputies.

Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, I am quite within my rights to raise this under promised legislation. As Head of Government-----

Deputy, you cannot make-----

-----I am asking that the Taoiseach instruct-----

Deputy, when I stand up, resume your seat, please.

-----the Government Chief Whip to facilitate the Business Committee-----

Deputy, please resume your seat. The Chair is speaking.

-----and allow the Tánaiste to answer the many questions that face him regarding the disciplinary process carried out in relation to Senator Martin Conway.

We need to do a training programme all around the House.

Now, Deputy, when the Chair stands up, you resume your seat out of respect. That is what I am here for.

I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle.

There is no point in apologising; you ignored me three times, Deputy. Yesterday, I addressed the matter. That rule is to protect all Members, not just the Oireachtas Member whom you are making the allegation against.

It is to protect you from-----

I did not make an allegation.

Allegations-----

I did not make an allegation.

She did not make an allegation. She has asked for time.

We asked for clarity.

Deputy, you were told yesterday how that clarity could be got. Your Whip was given it in writing.

The Taoiseach controls the Business Committee through the Chief Whip, through the party and through the Government. Deputy Byrne is entitled to ask the question.

One thing I do not control is the Business Committee. I can tell you that.

Making the allegation contained in the question-----

Do you really want me to control it?

If the Ceann Comhairle had let me finish, I would have got to the point about the Business Committee, which I was quite entitled to raise.

Your allegation was made at that stage.

I did not make an allegation. We asked for clarity and for a statement and we were quite within our rights to ask for that.

I am going to get the Taoiseach to respond but I am asking Deputies to consider that any allegation made against Members is prohibited.

No allegations were made.

As I consider it, it is an allegation.

Would you like me to repeat what I said?

No.

No, Deputy, I would not. Thank you.

There was no allegation made.

I call the Taoiseach, please.

There is no precedent. I do not think it is appropriate for internal party issues to be Government issues. It is not a Government issue-----

You insisted Sinn Féin-----

If I could just clarify-----

The double standards.

The Member of the other House, not this House, whom the Deputies refer to-----

How is that relevant?

Will the Deputy let me finish? He is heckling non-stop. The issue relates to a Member of the other House. It is a matter for the party concerned in terms of its internal disciplinary procedure. He is not an officer of the Government. He is not in office. He is not a member of Government. Under the Constitution, Government is accountable to the House so-----

It is pertinent to the payment.

He is accountable to-----

His party is in government.

-----this is all very straightforward, by the way, but I understand what the Deputy is doing and why she is doing it.

He is a member of Fine Gael.