HC Deb 12 January 1989 vol 144 c1004
Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At Question time today you took a point of order from my colleague the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maginnis). Later on, during Question Time, you took other points of order. The result was that three minutes of the precious time that we have for Northern Ireland questions were taken up with points of order. I have been in this House on other days during Question Time when you have ruled that you would take points of order after Question Time. Will you please follow that procedure for Northern Ireland and give us the three precious minutes that we need each fortnight, together with the other time allocated to us, to handle affairs of great importance in our Province?

Mr. Speaker

When a point of order is raised with the Chair, it must be taken if it requires immediate attention. That is what I did today. I fully agree with the hon. Member that if it is not a genuine point of order it merely wastes time. I hope that that will not occur. I am, nevertheless, bound to take points of order when they are raised, to determine whether they require immediate attention.