Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Cathaoirleach's ruling. I had only attempted to raise the point that Members, understanding their obligations under the Constitution, would never seek to overstep the mark in respect of difficult issues that may arise in the future. It is important that due process would be at the centre of our dealings with this case. That was all I wanted the Cathaoirleach to say and I appreciate that he did so.

Will the Leader provide time for the Minister for Education and Science to come before the House to explain the outrageous involvement by the Department of Education and Science, at his behest, in the publication of information to selected parties? Since the foundation of the State, the independence of our Civil Service has been a cornerstone of our democracy. Now we have a case of a Minister directing his Department to produce selective information for the consumption of one particular party, namely his own. This is an outrageous abuse of power. I ask the Leader, a distinguished former Minister for Education who would never do such a thing——