Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

With reference to the issue raised earlier by Deputy Durkan about parliamentary questions to the Department of Health and Children, I ask the Ceann Comhairle about the handling of such parliamentary questions by his office. Like other Members, I have had replies to parliamentary questions from the Minister for Health and Children which state that due to industrial relations problems she was unable to reply to questions but she invited me and others to resubmit the question if it remained a matter of ongoing interest. Now when I resubmit the question, the Ceann Comhairle's office rejects it without even sending it to the Department because it is a repeat question. Of course it is a repeat question. I was invited by the Minister to resubmit it. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to instruct his office that an invitation from a Minister requires the office to disregard the normal practice with regard to repeat questions.

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