Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

I want everybody to understand that this Chair acts totally independently and there is a tradition in this House that speaking slots are allocated proportionately and they will be continued to be so allocated. There is no such thing as an official list; it is purely as a matter of convenience that the Chair allows for a list to be compiled, but it is the duty of the Chair to ensure fair play and it is the duty of the Chair to call the next speaker in accordance with Standing Orders. I object to the questioning of my independence and the statement that I personally intervened to deny Sinn Féin a speaking slot.

I wish to move on to deal with the motion.

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