I am sorry, but it is because I am calling on the Cathaoirleach to refer my position as the leader and only member of the independent group to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to ensure I will have the same priority as everyone else.

I remind the Senator that I have the sole authority to call on speakers and that I operate under Standing Order 34, in accordance with decisions made by the House and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and also with precedent.

The House will have to review its decisions-----

That is what I operate under.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell has spoken ahead of others quite a few times.

Does Senator Gerard P. Craughwell have a question for the Leader on today's Order of Business?

My speaking rights and my right to bring Private Members' motions before the House are dictated by the size of the membership of any group to which I belong. The Technical Group in the Dáil has already tackled this problem and the Lower House has managed to accommodate all Members who are independent.

I suggest the Senator write to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the matter.

The Committee on Procedure and Privileges should be well aware of what I have said today.

It must be done formally.

I am sorry, but the members of the group that calls itself independent were not elected. They were appointed.

This is not a decision-----

They are Endapendent, not independent.

What is the point in the Senator joining them if he is going to attack them?

I suggest the Senator write to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges-----

On a point of order, in an effort to be helpful to Senator Gerard P. Craughwell, I would be glad to take up that issue with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on his behalf.

I am extremely grateful to the Senator.

The Senator could make an application to join Fianna Fáil.