I raised a point of order earlier which the Chair invited me to raise at the end of Question Time. The point related to the transfer of questions and it is highlighted by the fact that two questions now listed as numbers 99 and 100 on the Order Paper relative to the appointment of a President and a new Commissioner to the EEC were put down by me two or three weeks ago to the Taoiseach. Today I find on the Order Paper a question relating to the same subject matter from Deputy O'Leary which is apparently accepted by the Taoiseach. On what basis are these questions accepted or rejected by the Taoiseach? Is there some suggestion that if the Taoiseach wishes to evade a question that he does not want to reply to, he can merely direct it from his Department to some other Minister's Department? This is a very serious matter that should be resolved.
Business of Dáil.
The Chair has no responsibility in this matter. The Chair sends the questions to the Minister to whom they are addressed. If the questions office are informed afterwards that the question has been transferred to another Minister, the Chair takes no further part in it. The rulings all down the years have been that the Minister to whom the question is addressed may transfer it to another Minister to whose administration he feels the question is more relevant. The Chair has no power to compel a Minister to answer. That ruling has been given on various occasions in this House. The Chair has no further responsibility in the matter.
I see the Chair's point of view but in the light of this situation which is highlighted by these questions today, will the Taoiseach comment on the position, as it is he or his Department who presumably redirect questions, seemingly at will?
I am not sure that I have any function in the matter either but as I understand the position questions are directed to the member of the Government who has statutory responsibility for that area. If a question comes into my office or the office of any other Minister and is, in accordance with ministerial regulations, the responsibility of some other Minister, then the question is transferred to that other departmental person. I assure the Deputy that I have no wish to evade answering any question.
We cannot debate it here.
I appreciate what the Taoiseach is saying but in regard to this matter the question of the appointment of a Commissioner to the EEC is not a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The whole business is highlighted today——
We cannot debate it, Deputy.
——by the fact that a similar question put down by Deputy O'Leary is accepted by the Taoiseach. I would ask the Taoiseach, in view of the seriousness of this, that in so far as he can when a question is directed to him he would accept it and deal with it unless there is some special reason why he should not deal with it.