As I indicated yesterday on the Order of Business, I gave notice that I intended to raise this morning in accordance with Standing Order 30 the request to move the Adjournment of this House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter of public interest which requires our consideration. I would like to inform the House of the motion I submitted to you, which I believe is in accordance with Standing Order 30, and which reads as follows:
That this House believes that essential health services are now at serious risk, to such an extent that a total collapse of vital services to the sick and elderly cannot be ruled out. This House views with concern the arbitrary decisions which are being imposed by the Government on health boards and other agencies by the size of their financial allocations and believes that these decisions cannot be sustained without serious danger to the health and wellbeing of our citizens. Accordingly, this House calls on the Government to take the following steps immediately:
(a) to review the financial allocations for health boards and other agencies, to ensure that they have enough resources in 1987 to maintain services and employment at their present levels;
(b) to bring forward a rational plan for the control of health expenditure over a period of years, consistent with the objective of maintaining services and protecting employment;
(c) to enter into discussions with all interested groups with a view to the implementation of such a plan;
(d) to rescind the iniquitous charges for basic services which bear most heavily on those who can least afford to pay.
That is the motion I served on you yesterday and I am now asking if the Taoiseach will comply with my request and give time in this House, either late this evening or tommorrow, so that this motion can be discussed.