Dáil debates

Tuesday, 3 February 2004

3:00 pm

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before coming to the Order of Business I must deal with a postponed division relating to the suspension of a Member. On Thursday last, 29 January 2004, a division was claimed on the question, "That Deputy Deasy be suspended from the service of the Dáil". In accordance with Standing Order 61, that division must be taken now.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would like to raise a point of order which relates to the proposed suspension from the House. Your responsibility, a Cheann Comhairle, is to oversee the fair running of the workings of this House and to protect the rights of all Members, irrespective of party. Deputy Deasy is about to be expelled because he asked two questions in the House.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Deputy——

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Listen, a Cheann Comhairle.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not——

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We have enough of you now.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, I want to explain——

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not a point of order.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Listen.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, it is a point of order.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not a point of order.

Deputies:

It is.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a point of order.

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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This is exactly what we are complaining about.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I want to point out to you, Deputy Kenny——

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, if you let me finish my point——

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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——that your Whip, Deputy Durkan, has referred the matter——

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is your responsibility, Sir——

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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——to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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——to see that the rights of Members are respected and protected here.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Deputy. The Deputy was named because of gross disorder in the House.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He got no answers.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want to speak on this matter, a Cheann Comhairle.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Kenny, the matter has been referred——

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want to make my point.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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——to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, where it will be dealt with tomorrow.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want to raise my point of order, a Cheann Comhairle.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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You have raised your point of order.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who is not here——

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will ask the Clerk to ring the bells.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, this is outrageous behaviour.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We can have no point of order once the division is called.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are fed up of the dictators.

Question put: "That Deputy Deasy be suspended from the service of the Dáil."

The Dáil divided by electronic means.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Deasy will now leave the House.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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As a teller, under Standing Order 69 I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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As Deputy Durkan is a Whip, under Standing Order 69 he is entitled to call a vote through the lobby.

Question again put: "That Deputy Deasy be suspended from the service of the Dáil."

The Dail Divided:

For the motion: 78 (Bertie Ahern, Michael Ahern, Noel Ahern, Barry Andrews, Seán Ardagh, Liam Aylward, Johnny Brady, Martin Brady, Séamus Brennan, John Browne, Joe Callanan, Ivor Callely, Pat Carey, John Carty, Beverley Flynn, Mary Coughlan, John Cregan, Martin Cullen, John Curran, Síle de Valera, Noel Dempsey, Tony Dempsey, John Dennehy, Jimmy Devins, John Ellis, Frank Fahey, Michael Finneran, Dermot Fitzpatrick, Seán Fleming, Pat Gallagher, Jim Glennon, Mary Hanafin, Mary Harney, Seán Haughey, Máire Hoctor, Joe Jacob, Cecilia Keaveney, Billy Kelleher, Peter Kelly, Tony Killeen, Séamus Kirk, Brian Lenihan Jnr, Conor Lenihan, Charlie McCreevy, Jim McDaid, Michael McDowell, Tom McEllistrim, John McGuinness, John Moloney, Donal Moynihan, Michael Moynihan, Michael Mulcahy, M J Nolan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Charlie O'Connor, Willie O'Dea, Liz O'Donnell, John O'Donoghue, Denis O'Donovan, Noel O'Flynn, Batt O'Keeffe, Ned O'Keeffe, Fiona O'Malley, Tim O'Malley, Tom Parlon, Peter Power, Dick Roche, Eoin Ryan, Mae Sexton, Brendan Smith, Michael Smith, Noel Treacy, Dan Wallace, Joe Walsh, Ollie Wilkinson, Michael Woods, G V Wright)

Against the motion: 58 (Bernard Allen, Dan Boyle, James Breen, Tommy Broughan, Richard Bruton, Joan Burton, Paul Connaughton, Paudge Connolly, Joe Costello, Simon Coveney, Seymour Crawford, Seán Crowe, Ciarán Cuffe, John Deasy, Jimmy Deenihan, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Olwyn Enright, Martin Ferris, Eamon Gilmore, John Gormley, Marian Harkin, Tom Hayes, Séamus Healy, Joe Higgins, Phil Hogan, Brendan Howlin, Paul Kehoe, Enda Kenny, Kathleen Lynch, Pádraic McCormack, Dinny McGinley, Paul McGrath, Paddy McHugh, Olivia Mitchell, Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, Gerard Murphy, Denis Naughten, Dan Neville, Michael Noonan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Fergus O'Dowd, Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose, John Perry, Ruairi Quinn, Pat Rabbitte, Michael Ring, Eamon Ryan, Seán Ryan, Trevor Sargent, Róisín Shortall, Emmet Stagg, David Stanton, Billy Timmins, Mary Upton, Jack Wall)

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hanafin and Kelleher; Níl, Deputies Boyle and Harkin.

Question declared carried.

Deputy Deasy withdrew from the Chamber.