I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to me under Standing Order 20 (3) (a) and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Gerry Reynolds, the progress that has been made through the Anglo-Irish Agreement for the opening of cross-Border roads between Leitrim and Northern Ireland which have been closed since the mid seventies; (2) Deputy Philip Hogan, the need for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to publish a plan to protect the rural economy from the attack on living standards from the EC and GATT; (3) Deputy Tony Gregory, the loss of one concessionary teaching post at St. Laurence O'Toole's senior boys national school which serves the very disadvantaged Sheriff Street area in Dublin 1; (4) Deputy Eric Byrne, the decision of the Minister for Tourism and Transport to sanction substantial increases in bus and rail fares from Monday next; (5) Deputy Eamon Gilmore, the matter of a constituent who is doing a one year full-time computer course who is being forced to give up his studies because the Department of Social Welfare are withdrawing his unemployment benefit; (6) Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, the hardship facing many young homeless people in Dublin and elsewhere in the country; and the urgency of an immediate response from the Government; (7) Deputy Roger Garland, the stopping of the refurbishment programme in Ballymun flats, causing financial hardship and the risk of further unemployment in this area; (8) Deputy Nora Owen, the circumstances of the freezing to death during the weekend of a 21-year old woman in Mulhuddard, County Dublin and (9) Deputy Mary Flaherty, the lack of any laws or regulations governing the operation of tattoo parlours and the consequent dangers to public health.
I have selected for discussion the matters raised by the following Deputies: Deputy Gerry Reynolds, Deputy Philip Hogan and Deputy Eric Byrne.