Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I am sure we have already had an opportunity in the parliamentary Labour Party to wish the Leas-Cheann Comhairle warm congratulations on his achieving 44 years in this House.

On today's Order of Business, we are informed that questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs are scheduled for this afternoon. Will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle offer me guidance on a very important matter in this regard? A practice has grown in which parliamentary questions are transferred arbitrarily from one Minister to another without consultation with the spokespersons or the Office of the Ceann Comhairle. Today I tabled a question on the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and compliance therewith, which is a specific function on the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The preparation of the domestic legislation would be a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform after ratification, which I understand has not happened. The question has been transferred by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform without consultation with me, who tabled the question as a priority question today.

This practice is happening not only in respect of questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs today but also in respect of other questions. The Office of the Ceann Comhairle is supposed to protect the Order of Business, put through the process of this House. Ministers and their Department officials are consulting one another and arbitrarily transferring questions, as today. It is absurd. My question on ratification today refers to the fact that the United Nations Convention against Corruption needs four or five signatures to become a legal instrument internationally. That is the function of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Canvassing for support of the convention is a function of our ambassador to the United Nations. It is only in the event of its having been made a legal instrument that its transfer into domestic legislation arises.

What will the office of the Ceann Comhairle do to ensure some respect for Deputies and spokespersons who go to the trouble of tabling questions? They should reasonably expect that they will be answered by the correct Minister. A few minutes ago, the Tánaiste advised a Deputy to table a question to the line Minister. However, questions have been put to line Ministers and they have been outrageously and improperly transferred to colleagues. What will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle do to ensure there is respect for this House?

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