Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Ceann Comhairle failed to inform the House about the personal explanation the Minister for Defence is about to embark on this evening. This is nothing short of whitewash because the personal explanation to which the Ceann Comhairle refers, according to Standing Order 44(2), is "An explanation made under this Standing Order shall be brief, non-argumentative and strictly personal and shall not be such as would cause debate or give rise to further explanations". That is a whitewash. I was in contact with the Ceann Comhairle's office yesterday evening and this morning. The Ceann Comhairle is refusing to allow a debate on this issue.

See this speech in context