Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)

The time is up. I ask Deputies to read the Standing Order relating to parliamentary questions and the right of Deputies - which does not automatically exist - to put supplementary questions. I have been here almost 30 years and Question Time is becoming a total joke. People are tabling parliamentary questions but five or six questions are being answered during the session. The goal of parliamentary questions is to seek an answer; if Deputies are not happy with an initial answer they are entitled to elucidate. Not every Member is entitled to jump up and ask a supplementary question, and the Deputy asking the question is entitled to an answer. I will be fairly strict from now on unless Standing Orders are changed. As I have stated before, the current process can be very unfair to other Deputies who table questions that we do not reach.

I do not want to get into any arguments or rows with Deputies. When Deputies ask a supplementary question, there is no permission to start making statements. A question is just that. I will be fairly strict from now on because the current system can be grossly unfair to Deputies.

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