Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

On a point of order, this morning the House ordered the Whips to set aside time for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, to come into the House and make a personal statement. The Whips duly met and agreed that a suitable time would be now, at this moment in proceedings. The Minister conveyed to the Government and Opposition Whips that he would do so. I understand now that he is not coming to the House. This is the kind of arrogance and disrespect for the House that I find intolerable. I ask the good office of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to ensure that the House is not treated in this cavalier fashion by the Minister when an agreement was made with the House on all sides, including the Ceann Comhairle, that the Minister would be here to make a personal statement. He has now said that he will not come because the matter was to be on the Adjournment. The matter on the Adjournment is entirely separate. The Minister agreed to make a personal——

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