It was legitimate, it was straightforward and it was handled properly. There was no comeback. I am being shouted down in this democratic Parliament by people who are engaging in-----

I am being shouted down. I know the Deputy is a bit sensitive this week. He must be the first justice spokesperson-----

-----to ever stand by the graveside of somebody who was involved in the murder of an Irish soldier and a recruit member of the Garda Síochána.

That is someone you call a patriot. Shame on you.

Well-----

I thank the Deputy. First, the Deputy referred to "ramming through". A lot of phrases are being used here. The Opposition has been spending more time talking about speaking rights than any other issue in this Dáil. Anybody watching in at home does not believe this is being rammed through. There have been dozens upon dozens upon dozens of hours of meetings in relation to this. Now it is time to make a decision and move on, get this place working and get the committees set up so we can get down to the granular detail…

-----come in here and exercise their vote "Tá" or "Níl".

Sorry, the arrogance of the Deputy on this issue.

The Deputy says we have no mandate but these people have a mandate. The Deputy has just shouted across the floor of the Dáil, in case people at home missed it, "No mandate". Ceann Comhairle, everybody has a mandate.

As the Ceann Comhairle said in her letter yesterday, which I read-----

As the Ceann Comhairle said in her letter yesterday, it is up to the Members of this House, the democratically elected people of this Dáil, to decide the Standing Orders. It is absolutely in line with democracy after an election for Government and Opposition to put forward amendments and then have a vote on the floor of the Dáil. That is what we intend to do. We are going to do it next week. We are going to respect the outcome of the Dáil reform committee meeting yesterday, have a vote next week and move this place…

The Deputy asked about missions.

I will do my best. I was asked a question as to what missions we could not participate in.

Let us check the transcript. I heard the Deputy ask clearly where-----

-----I would like to send people on missions. It is almost impossible. I am just trying to answer the question. I am allowed to answer. Am I allowed to speak? Is that okay? I know the Opposition does not want the backbenchers to speak but am I allowed to speak?

Thank you. I would really like to speak. I have given the Deputy four examples and nothing to do with 25 years ago. Last time I checked, 2022 was three years ago; 2017 was not long ago and nor were 2015 or 1999. Let the people at home know the following. This Government and I are in favour of military neutrality. What we are not in favour of is Vladimir Putin having a veto over where our peacekeepers can go. We will bring the legislation to Cabinet. When it is brought to Cabinet, it will be published and will go to…

First, on the issue of speaking rights, my numbers may be off so correct me if they are, a Cheann Comhairle, but in a Leaders' Questions slot a speaker gets three minutes to ask the question, there are three minutes to respond, there is one minute to ask a follow-up question and then another minute to respond. We are having a row here for about eight minutes twice a week. That is eight minutes twice a week where we believe Government backbench TDs and Independent TDs who are not Ministers and are unaligned should b…

-----the Opposition does not lose a minute.

To all these people who are at home-----

People at home watching this, who are busy with their actual lives and the real issues that matter to them, are wondering what this row is about in the Dáil.