There were verbal skirmishes in yesterday when a row broke out during the Order of Business, about procedures in the House. On his first day in the Dail as leader of Fine Gael, Mr Michael Noonan complained he was being disqualified from raising issues of the day and warned he would not be "silenced". However the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he had no problem discussing this and other matters. It was a ruling of the House that they deal with it that way.

The Fine Gael leader said he wanted to raise issues such as the "appalling health service, the lack of opportunity in education and the Government's attempt to buy the next election through corporate donations".

Mr Noonan was referring to a ruling by the Ceann Comhairle changing a convention where Opposition leaders could raise current issues on the Order of Buiness. "I am a reasonable person and I cannot see any reason why deputy John Bruton, my predecessor, could raise issues of public concern each morning yet I will be disqualified from doing so," he said.

Mr Ahern said the leaders of Fine Gael and Labour had been allowed for the past number of years to raise topical issues. "Although this was not in Standing Orders I abided by that rule and did not utter an objection," he said.

Mr Pat Rabbitte (Lab, Dublin South West) intervened and said neither had any of the Taoiseach's predecessors. "The Taoiseach keeps saying he is the only one to do that. That is not true."

Mr Ahern said Deputy Rabbitte was wrong last week and again this week on the issue. "The deputy is trying to shout down the first question asked by the new leader of the Opposition. He might shout him down but he will not shout me down."

Mr Noonan said he would not be silenced. "I am here to do a particular job and I will do it." Labour leader Mr Ruairi Quinn called on the Government to force the Environment Committee to deal with the Labour Party's Private Members' Bill banning corporate donations and finish it before Easter.