Dail Éireann · 2023-10-17
Part of Topical Issue Debate
33 contributions · 4 speakers · 388 words
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. The protocol is that we are to be made aware of it. Nobody but the Minister for Health----- The Minister for Health has to be----- One speaker, please.
We ask that it be deferred to tomorrow when the Minister is available. In fairness to the Ceann Comhairle, he has made a stand on----- Can we get a ruling now? That is against the protocol that has been established----- The option is usually given to all Deputies when they table a Topical Issue if they want to withdraw it before then.
Built by scoring every sentence in the debate on how distinctive its language is, then quoting the highest-scoring ones back word for word and in the order spoken. Nothing is paraphrased or invented — if a sentence appears here, it was said in the chamber. Drawn from 388 words across 33 contributions by 4 speakers.
How often each word appears across the whole debate, ranked by how distinctive it is to it rather than common to all parliamentary language.
All 33 contributions, start to finish, in the order they were made.
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.
Are the Deputies not proceeding?
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.
I understand the protocol but it is just a pity that we did not know.
We did not know.
The Deputies did not know.
Nobody but the Minister for Health-----
The Minister for Health has to be-----
One speaker, please. I am not going against the Deputies. Let us just try to tease this out.
Of course.
The Deputies are withdrawing their Topical Issue.
No, we are deferring it.
We ask that it be deferred to tomorrow when the Minister is available. That is the established protocol.
The Deputies are deferring it. The Ceann Comhairle will be here so he will make the final decision.
In fairness to the Ceann Comhairle, he has made a stand on-----
Can we get a ruling now?
It is all right. I am not disagreeing with the Deputies at all.
I am just looking for a ruling.
I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health. It is up to the Deputies.
That is against the protocol that has been established-----
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.
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.
No one is-----
Is that right being upheld-----
Absolutely.
-----or is it subject to-----
No.
It is being upheld.
That right is being upheld.
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Will this be deferred until tomorrow?
Whether it goes into tomorrow will be up to the Ceann Comhairle.
If the Minister is available.