Last week in this House, I raised the issue of an allegation of an attack that took place in Phoenix Park. I acknowledge that the Garda has taken swift action in response to that. A number of organisations have been involved in supporting the young men at the centre of that attack. It is very important that an arrest has been made. I will make no further comment on it. However, it is important to point out that in recent days, I and others have received a serious amount of abuse on social media telling me that this did not happen and that it is all something that I made up.

The fact that there is an arrest is clearly a demonstration that it is not the case but I acknowledge the work the Garda has done in identifying a suspect.

I am also increasingly disgusted by the behaviour of some Members, particularly the use of the Order of Business not for discussion, calling for debates or advancing any kind of policy or anything like that but for personal mudslinging and the propagation of misinformation. Today in this House, one Member told us that there has essentially been an increase in sexual crime in this country because of migration. That is patently false. The Garda has said very clearly that there is no link between crime and people coming here seeking asylum. If we want to talk about it, let us talk about it but let us not propagate misinformation. Let us not either say in one breath that we respect the House, and at the same time talk down the Leas-Chathaoirleach when we are trying to make a point, instead of actually respecting the rules. An allegation was also made against the Minister in this House and an application was made to ask the speaker to withdraw that. However, the Chair seems to be more interested in telling people they cannot talk about the President than dealing with the fact that other Senators are abusing their positions in the House. It should not happen and it needs to be dealt with.

The Senator is well within his rights to stand up in any debate and ask the person speaking if they will allow him to intervene. If he feels that somebody has said something he does not feel is appropriate, he is, under Standing Orders-----

The Chair was asked to instruct the Member to withdraw their remark-----

No, no.

-----and the Chair did not even address the request.

No. No one stood up or asked to intervene.

On a point of order, I asked that the Member withdraw their comment.

Senator Byrne did not ask me to do it.

I did. I said it-----

No, the Senator has to stand up and ask to intervene. She can intervene and ask if the Member will allow her to intervene and then she can request it - to give way.

On a point of order, before I started speaking on what I wanted to raise, I raised it then and addressed it to you. I asked-----

No, the Senator asked the Member to withdraw.

I asked that the Member be asked to withdraw their comment about the Minister. I asked that.

Then the Senator can ask the Member to withdraw the comment directly.

They were finished speaking. It was at the very end of when they spoke. I asked when I stood up, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, on a point of order.

Members make political charges. It happens all the time. The Senator can ask the Member to withdraw the comment directly while they are speaking as well. Anois, the Leader on the Order of Business.