Last week on the Order of Business, I proposed that the motion to set up the terms of reference for the commission of inquiry into the findings of the Guerin report into Garda malpractice in the Cavan-Monaghan area should not be taken without debate. I also sought to debate the matter in this House and suggested that there should have been a debate in the Dáil as well. Since then, of course, we have had claims from the Ceann Comhairle that the Opposition were out to undermine him. He has withdrawn some of that and clarified his remarks somewhat, but it was still a serious claim for him to make on national radio.

Rulings made in the other House are irrelevant.

We are discussing the Order of Business. I am calling for the Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil and you as Cathaoirleach in the Seanad to reconsider having a debate on this issue, because it is of such fundamental importance.

Senator, that is not a matter for the Cathaoirleach.

It is, because-----

It is the Leader who orders the business in the House, not the Cathaoirleach.

And I can speak to the Leader of the House - whoever has responsibility.

The Cathaoirleach has no role in the matter.

It is the Taoiseach who has responsibility as well, because-----

The Ceann Comhairle is considering the matter with the CPP.

-----the information in regard to the letter that was sent by a former Minister and a sitting Member of Fine Gael had to be dragged out of him in the Dáil. So he must take responsibility for this mess as well.

Senator, that is a matter for the other House.

What we are calling for, given the seriousness of the issue-----

That is a matter for the other House.

It is a matter for the Order for Business-----

It is a matter for the other House.

-----because we had a motion last week that was taken without debate. What I am asking for is that the motion be brought back to both the Dáil and the Seanad so that all Oireachtas Members can scrutinise the terms of reference. It is a serious issue and there was a disturbing development in regard to what happened.

The House made a decision in relation to this matter.

The House can reconsider, which is what I am asking. I am asking the Leader to reconsider the decision that was taken last week in light of the clarification given by the Ceann Comhairle-----

The House has made a decision on this matter.

-----so that the Seanad can have a debate on this issue.

We are not reopening last week's decision.

On a point of order, can the Leader and the Cathaoirleach clarify whether the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, wrote to them about this matter in the same manner as the Dáil? In fairness, the Seanad has the same jurisdiction as the Dáil in this matter.

We are not discussing the matter.

It is an important matter that has caused considerable debate in the Dáil over the past week.

I call Senator Whelan.

The Cathaoirleach should answer that question.

It is last week's business and we are not discussing it. I call Senator Whelan.