Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

The Ceann Comhairle is also bound by precedent and previous decisions made by the Chair and his predecessors. There is a great deal of precedent for allowing a Member to request a debate on a particularly pressing issue. The only time the Ceann Comhairle seems to allow it is if the leaders of the main parties raise a matter. In defence of Deputy Ó Caoláin and my colleague, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, there are precedents. The Ceann Comhairle is fully empowered to allow the requests, or at least for the Taoiseach to indicate that he will allow a debate on it.

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