Before I came to the Chamber today I noted that the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, has announced that he intends to stand for re-election in 2020. In any democracy it is great that the people know in advance that their President intends to run for a second term. We all know that I have decided to put my name in the ring in the forthcoming presidential election in Ireland but until such time as we know-----

That is news to me, but the Senator may continue.

The truth of the matter is that the people of this country are entitled to know the direction in which this country is going. They are entitled to be told in advance and in plenty of time. Playing cuties with dates in July when people are on holiday and dropping rumours-----

In terms of protocol, we have a long-standing rule in this House that the President's office is above reproach. Any criticism of what he may or may not wish to do should not be enunciated in this Chamber.

I am drawing on a statement that the current President made in 2004.

I ask the Senator to be careful not to trespass onto forbidden ground. We have a long-standing protocol in that regard and I ask the Senator to be cautious in what he says.

Everybody knows that I hold the President in the highest esteem. He has done a wonderful job but that should not prevent us from discussing the position. It should not prevent us from discussing the need-----

I will have to rule against the Senator if he persists.

I will not push the Cathaoirleach to rule against me. I have made my point.

The Leader will no doubt be aware that a group of retired Defence Forces personnel have come together to express their concerns about the Defence Forces. I have met the Minister of State and he has been quite forthright in what he is trying to do but we need to have a debate with him on some of the issues of concern to the aforementioned group. I will leave that in the Leader's capable hands.