Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I have no intention of being disrespectful to the Ceann Comhairle or to this House. I asked a straight question of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, namely, whether he would he do those stationed in the barracks in Donegal the courtesy of meeting them. It was an open invitation. The Minister responded that if he decided to go, he would not let me know in this House but would tell another Deputy. This was disrespectful both to my position as a long-standing Member of this House and to the House itself. That is why I took this matter so seriously. I have too much respect for the House and for the chair in which the Ceann Comhairle is seated. I have occupied that chair myself for many hours in the past. Perhaps I will have an opportunity to do so again.

It is my position that the Minister was disrespectful to me, to the House and to the Army. He tried to politicise the Army, an entity which should be above politics for every democrat since the foundation of the State. The Minister told me he would impart the information to my constituency colleague but not to me in this Chamber. That is why I said what I did.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister was in the House to answer questions but he did not answer Deputy McGinley's.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The position is that Deputy McGinley would not leave the House when ordered to do so by the Chair.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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He was not ordered to leave.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I acknowledge the orderly manner in which Deputy McGinley conducts his business in this House and elsewhere. If he is willing to leave the House for the remainder of the day, as requested by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, we will leave it at that. I am obliged to ask him to leave the House.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I hope the Ceann Comhairle understands my position.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, but I have to ask the Deputy to leave the Chamber.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McGinley was not asked to leave the House.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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The Leas-Cheann Comhairle did not ask me to leave the House.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It was the Minister who left. The mouse left the House.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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My information is that the Deputy was asked to leave.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Mouse O'Dea left the House.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must ask again whether Deputy McGinley is willing to leave the House for the remainder of the day.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is Deputy McGinley willing to leave the House for the remainder of the day?

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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He will do so on the understanding that he was not originally asked to do so.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This matter is between the Chair and Deputy McGinley and nobody else.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am not taking evidence. This is not the Star Chamber. It is between the Chair and Deputy McGinley.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I do not wish to be disrespectful. I will leave under protest but I hope to be back.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It would be no harm to bring Mouse O'Dea back to the Chamber to allow him to apologise to the House.