Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

We can vote but I point out to Deputies that if we vote, we are not voting on anything that has anything to do with the Garda Commissioner because that is what is before us. If Members see fit, we can convene a meeting of the Business Committee at 3.30 p.m to come up with a proposal about how to move forward. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked a question about my refusal of a private notice question. I want to be very clear that in considering a private notice question, one must consider first and foremost whether it is a matter of urgent public importance, which it is, but one must also take into account whether there are other avenues available to Members to address the particular issue.

I took into account that I received the request for a private notice question after I had made a decision to call people for a Topical Issue. I am conscious of the fact that the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality will answer questions in the House on Thursday. I am further conscious of the fact that the Garda Commissioner is to go before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality during the week. In my view, as far as the private notice question is concerned, there were quite a number of other avenues through which that particular matter could be considered.

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