Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I apologise. Whenever the Minister for Health is not available when a Topical Issue comes up, the protocol is that we are to be made aware that the Minister is not available. That has not happened in this case. We cannot proceed. The Minister for Health has not notified us.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Are the Deputies not proceeding?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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That is the protocol. It is clearly established. I am the Sinn Féin Whip. The protocol is that we are to be made aware of it.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I understand the protocol but it is just a pity that we did not know.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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We did not know.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputies did not know.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Nobody but the Minister for Health-----

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister for Health has to be-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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One speaker, please. I am not going against the Deputies. Let us just try to tease this out.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Of course.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputies are withdrawing their Topical Issue.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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No, we are deferring it.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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We ask that it be deferred to tomorrow when the Minister is available. That is the established protocol.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputies are deferring it. The Ceann Comhairle will be here so he will make the final decision.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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In fairness to the Ceann Comhairle, he has made a stand on-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Can we get a ruling now?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It is all right. I am not disagreeing with the Deputies at all.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I am just looking for a ruling.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health. It is up to the Deputies.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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That is against the protocol that has been established-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The option is usually given to all Deputies when they table a Topical Issue if they want to withdraw it before then. It is okay.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Can I get clarification from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle as the Chair here today? The issue is that nearly 100 health professionals have written to the Minister - I am not going to go into it. Therefore, it is really important that the Minister himself is present. We have a right to ask for a deferral until he is here.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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No one is-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Is that right being upheld-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Absolutely.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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-----or is it subject to-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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No.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It is being upheld.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That right is being upheld.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Will this be deferred until tomorrow?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Whether it goes into tomorrow will be up to the Ceann Comhairle.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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If the Minister is available.