Were the Standards in Public Office Commission or the British Embassy aware this breakfast was a fundraising event? It is appropriate that ambassadors are invited, by all political parties, to attend events but not to fund-raisers. We are all aware of the difficulties in regard to politics and fund-raisers-----

The Senator sounds anti-British.

The Senator may speak for himself.

I am listening to the Senator.

Does Senator Mark Daly have a question for the Leader?

Unremitting hatred of the English.

Please allow Senator Mark Daly to make his contribution, without interruption, please.

Will the Chair, please, ask Senator David Norris to refrain from interrupting?

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

He is telling you what to do.

I ask Senator David Norris to withdraw the statement.

I will not.

I did not hear what he said. Does Senator Mark Daly have a question for the Leader?

I ask the Chair to ask Senator David Norris to withdraw the statement he made.

I did not hear what he said.

He called the Senator anti-British and should withdraw that remark.

I ask the Cathaoirleach to instruct the Senator to withdraw the statement he made.

I will not; it is as simple as that.

As I did not hear what the Senator had to say, I cannot comment on it. Does Senator Mark Daly have a question for the Leader?

It is unfortunate that the Senator is not concerned about the issue of fundraising within political parties and that the British ambassador appears to have been misled in regard to that issue and was unaware the breakfast was a fundraising event. I have attended many events with the British ambassador in regard to the decade of commemorations and ask the Leader to clarify the position. Was he informed that the breakfast was a fundraising event?

I understand he was a speaker at the event.

That is right.

I understand the embassy was not informed.

I ask the Senator to resume his seat.

Does Senator Mark Daly think the British ambassador should be muzzled?

I ask the Senator to show some courtesy to the House and resume his seat.

I am sorry to interrupt, but I ask Senator David Norris to withdraw his last comment.

With all the interruptions in the House, I did not hear what he had to say. I call Senator Aideen Hayden.

I ask Senator David Norris to withdraw his comment.

On a point of order, it is difficult for us on this side to hear what is said on the other side of the House. I am not being smart about this, but we could not hear the Senator's argument.

Can we hear Senator Aideen Hayden, without interruption, please?

I will accept that, but perhaps when the Chair has had a chance to look at the record, he might-----

I ask Senator David Norris to, please, resume his seat.

On a point of order, I would like to let the House know that the report in the newspapers stated the British ambassador would be the guest speaker at a lucrative Fine Gael fund-raiser this morning, but the Fine Gael Party did not tell ambassador, Mr. Dominick Chilcott, that the business breakfast was a fund-raiser when he was invited - end of story.

That is not a point of order. The Senator is completely out of order.

I beg the Chair's pardon-----

That is exactly the point I was making - that the ambassador was unaware it was a fund-raiser. I asked the Leader to clarify the position.

We are not here to discuss a morning breakfast.

As I am sure the British ambassador will respond, let us stop making a song and dance out of this and get on with the business of the House.

Senator Mark Daly should resume his seat.

I second the amendment proposed by the Fianna Fáil leader on the Order of Business and thank Senator David Norris for reiterating my comment.

Senators are using up time on the Order of Business because I will be calling time after 55 minutes today.

I have no comment to make about who does or does not attend a breakfast for any reason, but I point out that it is thanks to the Government that we have robust legislation on political donations and their declaration and that we have openness and transparency in political life.

Like the appointment made to IMMA.

Does Senator Aideen Hayden have a question for the Leader?

Did the Senator vote for Mr. McNulty? She probably did, like all the Labour Party Members who walk through the lobbies and do what their Fine Gael masters tell them to do.

Please allow Senator Aideen Hayden to contribute, without interruption.

I bet she did, no doubt about it. I hope she walks him into the House-----