Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before I commence the next item of business, I wish to correct the record of the House. Last evening, when I was not in the Chair, Deputy Gerry Adams made a statement which was totally inaccurate. He stated:

I just want to say Sinn Féin was denied its speaking slot this evening by a direct intervention by the Ceann Comhairle. I want to protest about this.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Fianna Fáil got four slots.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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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.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are not having a debate on this matter.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Can I ask a question?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excuse me, Deputy; please resume your seat. You are not entitled to any response. Please resume your seat, like everyone else.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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On a point of order-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I corrected the record of the House and that is all I am doing.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I certainly have the right to put on the record what happened.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, Deputy. You are not entitled to put anything on the record because you were totally out of order. Please resume your seat.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Where is the democracy in that?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am moving to deal with the motion-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ceann Comhairle, with respect, you made an important statement which cannot be glossed over. For example, Deputy Ó Cuív thought he had a speaking slot last night-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I corrected the record of the House.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----but he had no opportunity. I respectfully suggest that we need to meet-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have made my statement. Please resume your seat, Deputy Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----because the budget debate has just ended and we do not know when it will be resumed. If we had a bit of cop-on and common-sense everybody would get a decent opportunity to speak, Independents included. The Chair cannot arbitrarily-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am on my feet, Deputy Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With respect, I will resume my seat, but you should allow people to talk-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You are out of order. I ask the Tánaiste to move the motion.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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On a point of order-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is no point of order on a correction that I am making to the record of the House.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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If we were to have a discussion we could sort this out. The Government decides there is to be no more debate on the budget.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy misunderstands what I said, which is that I am correcting an incorrect statement made in this House.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I want to challenge that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is all I am doing. I now call on the Tánaiste to move the motion.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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On a point of order-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is no point of order on a correction statement.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Are you refusing to allow a Member of the House to raise a point of order?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please resume your seats.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Are you refusing to allow me to make a point of order?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Resume your seat and I will explain it to you. A motion will be put to the House. Prior to that, I am entitled, as Chair, to correct any inaccurate misinformation that was delivered to the House last night. That is what I did.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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That is a grievous charge.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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As a Member of the House, am I allowed to make a point of order?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, you are not, because there is no point of order on a statement to correct the record.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Are you refusing?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I wish to move the motion-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please resume your seats.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Someone wants to make a point of order and he is entitled to do so.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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On what?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We need to hear what he says-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not need a lecture from you, Deputy Martin. Do you know the meaning of a point of order? Is it a point of order on a correction I made to the record of the House?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to hear what Deputy Donnelly wants to raise first and then the Chair can adjudicate.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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How is Deputy Donnelly involved in this matter? I am correcting the record of the House.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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If I may explain very quickly-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not a point of order.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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It is relevant to what the Chair referenced. He said that Fianna Fáil had 19 seats, Sinn Féin 13 seats and the Technical Group 16 seats. With the greatest respect, the Ceann Comhairle also said that the time was allocated in proportion to the number of seats. Four speaking slots were allocated to Fianna Fáil, three to Sinn Féin and two to the Technical Group.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is in accordance with Standing Orders.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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My question on a point of order is how is the allocation-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy resumes his seat I will explain it. An order of the House, which I am obliged to follow, directed that spokespersons for the following are given time. Therefore, it does not come under the normal slot arrangements. Does the Deputy understand now?

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I accept that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Tánaiste to move the motion.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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A Cheann Comhairle, you allowed a point of order from Deputy Donnelly. I wish to make a point of order.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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For what?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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You said I misrepresented what had occurred.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excuse me, Deputy. I read out the official record of the House.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Am I to be denied?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If you wish me to read it again I will do so. The Deputy said:

I just want to say Sinn Féin was denied its speaking slot this evening by a direct intervention by the Ceann Comhairle. I want to protest about this.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Am I not allowed to give you my-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, because I am correcting the record of the House.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I think the Ceann Comhairle is behaving in a totally improper way by not allowing me-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Was the Deputy behaving in a totally proper way when he made that statement without any evidence whatsoever?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, I was.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What is the evidence?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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If you let me speak for two minutes we can move on.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, I will not let you speak for two minutes.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Why not?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You are not entitled to speak for two minutes. That is the reason.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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You are allowed to make a speech.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am entitled to correct the record where my reputation and the independence of this Chair was put at risk.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle has said this in front of me and others. Surely, in the interests of decency and fairness, I am entitled-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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To do what?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----to outline what happened yesterday.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, I am outlining exactly what you said in this House.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Excuse me, I know what I said.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is incorrect. That is all I am saying.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Other representatives here have the right to hear-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, they are not entitled to hear what happened.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Are they not?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You made an incorrect statement and I am correcting it.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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No, I did not make an incorrect statement.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A Cheann Comhairle, could we-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Let us proceed with the motion.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Could I make a point of order?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Would it be possible to convene a meeting between the leaders-----

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin should sit down, please. The other Deputy is well able to look after himself.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Could I make a point of order?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Sit down, Deputy Martin.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to tell you what happened yesterday.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am not interested in what happened yesterday.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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You should be interested.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am interested in what you stated in the House-----

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I understand that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----which was incorrect. I am correct in saying that Sinn Féin got three slots.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Let me explain to you the context in which I made the remarks.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is making a habit of making those kinds of explanations.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is in black and white.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I could have said all I wanted in one minute. I had to leave here yesterday-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not want to know where you had to go.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----to attend a family funeral-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That has nothing to do with me.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I sent word-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You had three speaking slots throughout the day.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I sent word to your office that I would not be available for Leaders' Questions.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, that happens regularly.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I understand that entirely. I was allocated-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are only wasting time.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----a slot for 8.30 p.m. I returned-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You were not allocated a slot for 8.30 p.m.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I was. I returned from Belfast to speak on the budget.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Nobody is allocated a slot for any given time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, they were.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Your office informed us that the rota had been rearranged-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, I did not rearrange anything.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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You had rearranged the order.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Who told you that?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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My office was told that by your office.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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By who?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I was shown this-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, your office was not told that by my office.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----yesterday.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excuse me, but that is another incorrect statement.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It was shown yesterday on the computer by the Clerk.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The computer does not decide who speaks.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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You did.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle inputs it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not decide.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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You did.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Whoever puts it in the computer decides the order.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy resume his seat and listen to what I say? It is a matter of convenience that we allocate slots proportionately, simply to bring a sort of order to the proceedings. Strictly speaking, it is a matter for the Chair to call the next speaker. The slots allocated yesterday were proportional to the representation in this House.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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No.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sinn Féin, with 13 Members, got three slots, as opposed to Independents not aligned to the Technical Group, who got two slots.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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That is not proportionate.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will Deputies be quiet?

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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How do we get fewer slots?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputies agreed to an order.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is it the case that the Reform Alliance is an Opposition party?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Join a party.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin should resume his seat.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Reform Alliance an Opposition party now?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should resume his seat.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Cuív lost his slot as well. The issue would be sorted-----

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I wish to move No. d7.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----if the debate had not been guillotined-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will Deputies allow the Tánaiste to move-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and greater opportunities were given to people.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Fine Gael is getting funding for them, which is a total farce.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is for the supposedly non-aligned Deputies.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The same as Fianna Fáil did with Deputy Mattie McGrath.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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He is an Independent.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----the motion?