John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As the Deputy has decided she will not leave the House——

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On a point of order——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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——I must move: "That Deputy Shortall be suspended from the service of the Dáil." Is that motion opposed?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It most certainly is being opposed.

John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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The proceedings were brought to an end.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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In accordance with Standing Order 62, any division on the suspension of a Member is postponed——

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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If the Ceann Comhairle persists with it——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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——until immediately before the Order of Business on the next sitting day, which in this case is tomorrow.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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——I will lead my Deputies out of this Chamber in protest at the unfair treatment of Deputy Shortall.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Shortall must now leave the House.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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A Cheann Comhairle, this is a charade.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must now leave the House.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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We were promised that we would be allowed to ask questions and get answers.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must now leave the House.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Deputy Burton came in and asked legitimate questions, but the Minister completely ignored her.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy does not leave the House, I will have to suspend the sitting.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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We have a right to answers to our questions.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will suspend the sitting for 15 minutes.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Shortall, I must ask you to leave the House.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I will leave the House now in protest against the failure by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Lenihan, to answer legitimate questions posed by my colleague, Deputy Joan Burton.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Labour Party Deputies will leave the House in protest at the Minister's failure to answer Deputy Burton's question which gave rise to the request by the Ceann Comhairle that Deputy Shortall should leave the House. When we ask questions in the Chamber the Minister should reply to them. Instead of doing so, he headed for the door at the first opportunity he got. That shows disrespect to the House and to Deputy Burton, and for the serious matters we had to discuss.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Gilmore——

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is ironic that it is Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall protested——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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All I can say to Deputy Gilmore is that no further questions were allowed. His party members were involved in this matter for one hour and 20 minutes and all the Chair can do is facilitate the Members by allowing the question. The Chair did so and allowed several Private Notice questions. The debate took much longer than is normal in these circumstances because I continued to allow Members ask questions. There was a considerable amount of repetition and I regret that Deputy Gilmore is aggrieved. That is all I can say.

Deputies:

Vótáil.

Deputies:

Deputy Shortall withdrew from the Chamber.