O'Hanlon threatened with no confidence motion

Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon was threatened with a motion of no confidence during heated Dáil exchanges.

The threat was made by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, as he was repeatedly ruled out of order while attempting to question Tánaiste Mary Harney on the fuel allowance paid to elderly people.

Mr Rabbitte remarked: "I must tell the Ceann Comhairle that if he continues this into the next year, he will invite a motion of no confidence. Whereas his own might vote for him, he will have lost the confidence of this side of the House."

Dr O'Hanlon, Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, remarked: "The Chair does not have his own in this House. The Chair lives in isolation." After further lengthy exchanges between Mr Rabbitte, other Opposition deputies and the Ceann Comhairle, Ms Harney said that a social welfare Bill would be published to implement the budget changes.

"The Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Minister for Finance will announce a major package for social welfare in the budget. Concerning fuel, we extended the period covered by the allowance rather than increasing the allowance."

She said the Minister was conscious of and sensitive to the needs of the elderly on welfare.

Earlier, Mr Rabbitte told Ms Harney, who was taking the Order of Business, that he wanted to ask her a question which concerned the vulnerability of older people in the cold weather. Was she aware that the fuel allowance had not been increased since 2002 and stood at €9? Did she know that a half-bag of coal cost almost €9? When Dr O'Hanlon ruled him out of order, under the standing orders of the House, Mr Rabbitte said: "With respect, the Ceann Comhairle should have more empathy with this than most people."

Dr O'Hanlon replied that he was in the House to implement standing orders and not to express opinions on any issue.

"The deputy knows he is out of order. There are ways it can be raised and I suggest Deputy Rabbitte raises it in the appropriate manner. It is not a matter for the Order of Business."

Mr Rabbitte said there was never a situation in his time in the House where a leader of a party was not permitted to raise such a matter on the Order of Business.

Dr O'Hanlon said that Mr Rabbitte knew well that Opposition leaders' questions was established to give them a chance to ask questions on topical issues.

Mr Rabbitte said Opposition leaders' questions only applied on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. "I asked a perfectly civilised question, and I ask the Tánaiste, on behalf of the Government, what is her response to it."

Dr O'Hanlon repeated the matter did not arise on the Order of Business.

Seán Ryan (Labour, Dublin North) said that, normally on Thursday mornings, flexibility was given, adding that a valid question had been posed to the Tánaiste.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe said the Ceann Comhairle should accept there was a historic precedent whereby the Ceann Comhairle had flexibility, particularly on matters raised on Thursday mornings. "I suggest the Ceann Comhairle uses that flexibility and does not have the Minister sitting mute."

Labour chief whip Emmet Stagg claimed the problem lay in the Dr Hanlon's "inflexible interpretation" of standing orders.

Later, Bernard Allen (FG, Cork North Central) was ruled out of order by Dr O'Hanlon when he attempted to raise the state of cancer services in the Munster region. He asked Dr O'Hanlon if he was threatening him again. "I will support Deputy Rabbitte's motion."

Mr Allen was suspended from the House earlier this week following a row on the same issue.