Dáil suspended as TD refuses to leave chamber

The Dáil was suspended for a total of 25 minutes tonight after a Fine Gael TD refused to leave the chamber after being suspended for gross disorder.

Ceann Comhairle Rory O’Hanlon ruled Cork North Central TD Bernard Allen out of order and asked him to leave the House.

Mr Allen had repeatedly interrupted the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during Leaders’ Questions.

Mr Ahern was replying to Opposition questions on the shortage of oncologists in the south of the country.

Dr Seamus O’Reilly, who is based at Cork University Hospital claimed in a daily newspaper yesterday that a population of 580,356 had access to just one permanent medical oncologist.

Mr O’Hanlon adjourned the Dáil for five minutes but Mr Allen was still present in the chamber.

The Ceann Comhairle suspended the House again for two periods of 10 minutes each when Mr Allen refused to leave the chamber.

Cork Labour TD Kathleen Lynch was also suspended after she continued to raise the issue and the Dáil was adjourned for a further five minutes.