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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 1991

Vol. 404 No. 6

Requests to Move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 30.

Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices of motions under Standing Order 30. I observe that the notices given by Deputies Sherlock, Ferris and R. Bruton relate to the same subject matter, and I am calling the Deputies in the order in which they have submitted their notices to my office. I now, therefore, call Deputy Sherlock to state the matter of which he has given me notice.

In accordance with Standing Order 30 I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the following: the crisis in the health services in a number of health board areas as a result of inadequate Government funding, the likely consequences in terms of longer waiting lists, the early discharge of patients, the longer holiday closure of beds and wards, the deferment of the filling of vacancies and a worsening in the plight of the mentally handicapped, with even less money for child care services and facilities for the elderly; the urgent need for the Government to review the allocation for all health boards in order to avoid health cuts and allow services to be restored to an acceptable level. In view of the urgency of the matter and the widespread acknowledgement that the health cuts hurt the old, the sick and the handicapped, I urge you, a Cheann Comhairle, to agree to my request.

My motion is along similar lines to that of the previous speaker. It is based on the fact that the matter is of public importance, requiring public attention. It states: that this House views with extreme concern the crisis facing the health boards and other health agencies arising from the allocations made by the Government and the Minister for Health, and condemns the failure of the Government to provide additional resources in the context of the budget. In particular this House views with alarm the following: the fact that no health board will be able to meet their allocation for this year without further cutbacks in service, the fact that these cutbacks will inevitably mean the further closure of wards and beds in the course of the year, together with the suppression of medical and nursing posts that become vacant; the fact that the inevitable consequences of such cutbacks will be further delays in treating people on waiting lists, in addition to the already unacceptable delays; the fact that the Government are willing to promise a spurious extension of the right to free consultancy service without any negotiation or discussion with legitimate interests involved and without injecting the additional resources necessary to ensure that there is not a further deterioration in health services, the fact that the Government's allocation to community service this year will do nothing to repair the damage done to those services in the past three years; the fact that the Government have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the increasingly desperate need for residential accommodation for people with mental handicap, together with the growing need for training and sheltered employment; the fact that the Government have made a totally inadequate provision in the capital expenditure with the result that the new Tallaght hospital——

There is a tendency here to over-elaboration and speech making. This is not in conformity with the rules. The House will have to deal with it.

Accordingly, this House demands that an urgent additional allocation of resources be made to ensure——

The Deputy has made his point.

——to ensure that the major crisis which otherwise would occur——

This is not an occasion for speech-making.

——will not take place this year.

I hope that you will not interpret my brevity signifying any less concern about this——

I congratulate you, Deputy.

Under a Standing Order, could we discuss on the Adjournment of the Dáil the serious shortfall of £20 million in the financial provision to the health boards which, I emphasise, are meeting this week to finalise their estimates? This shortfall will result in a substantial cutback in health services during 1991 and will also mean a complete inability to plan for the development of health services in many areas in which there are already lengthy waiting lists. It is a matter of serious public concern——

I expected brevity.

There will be fewer residential places for the elderly, fewer hospital places for people awaiting care and a deterioration in the already bad services for the mentally handicapped.

Having fully considered these matters, I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 30 and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motions. I have a similar request under Standing Order 30 from Deputy Deasy.

On a point of order——

I will hear the point of order.

In relation to the three matters raised under Standing Order 30, your own guidelines given to each Deputy in this House on 6 December state that the matters must be specific, of general public importance, one that has arisen suddenly and likely to develop significantly before the Dáil will, in practice, have an opportunity of discussing it and within the current responsibility of the Government. I am baffled as to how you cannot see that these matters fall within these criteria.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

Deputy Spring, I am very much aware of the rules governing Standing Order 30 and I do not need to be reminded of them by you or any other Member of this House.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

However, the matters referred to by the three Deputies can be brought up in the on-going budget debate in this House. Furthermore, the Chair is aware that there is a priority question tabled in respect of this specific matter for answer this week. The Chair has a special obligation to safeguard Members who go to the trouble of putting down a question on such matters instead of allowing them to be stymied by such a procedure.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, if you were waiting for hospital treatment that would not mean anything.

Deputy Spring, there is ample time for raising these matters in the House. As I said, the budget debate is ongoing and it can be dealt with in that way.

Nothing will be done, like the budget of last week. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Health should——

There are many avenues open to Deputies for raising such subjects and I outlined some of them to you.

On a point of order——

A point of order from Deputy John Bruton.

Surely the Taoiseach should confirm that the matters are so urgent we should debate them in this House?

I am calling Deputy John Bruton.

On a point of order in relation to the matter which has been discussed, will the Ceann Comhairle agree that there is no obligation on the Government to reply to any points made by Deputies in the budget debate? Therefore, the budget debate does not provide an adequate means for Deputies to raise a very urgent matter in regard to the health services in view of the imminence of the various health board meetings. Will you, Sir, reconsider your decision in relation to this matter?

No, Deputy, most certainly not.

Deputy Ferris rose.

Please, Deputy Ferris, resume your seat.

Is it possible to make a point of order?

Deputy Ferris, the Chair is on his feet.

Is it possible to make a point of order?

Resume your seat. I wish to reply to Deputy John Bruton who raised a point of order. I have indicated that there are a variety of ways for raising such matters. I have also indicated to the House that there is a priority question tabled on the subject this week — to be answered this week — and the Chair must have regard to these factors.

My party will be raising this matter again tomorrow.

On a point of order——

I will not hear points of order interminably on this subject.

It is my first point of order.

Please, Deputy Ferris, I have yet to call Deputy Deasy to move a motion under Standing Order 30. He is entitled to do so and I call him now.

May I not raise a point of order on a legitimate question which I asked under Standing Order 30? Is it not possible to do so in this House and to protect local democracy?

Deputy Ferris, I have replied in detail to your Leader on the subject.

There is no relevance in your reply, a Cheann Comhairle, because, since this House started its budget debate, health boards have refused to accept these Estimates.

Deputy Ferris, please resume your seat.

This is a very urgent matter.

Proinsias De Rossa rose.

Does the Deputy have a point of order?

Yes. I seek clarification of the basis on which you made your decision. You indicated that as a priority question was tabled and the budget debate is proceeding, they are adequate to deal with the matter. We are seeking an adjournment of the Dáil so that we can debate this issue and that the House can make a specific decision to ensure that there is an adequate allocation to the health services which is not covered by the budget debate or the priority question.

I have nothing further to add to my ruling in the matter.

In order to be helpful, I will cede my priority question if it means we may debate this matter in the House.

I am calling Deputy Deasy.

On a point of order——

The Chair is very patient.

When replying, a Cheann Comhairle, you stated that you did not see it as an urgent matter. In view of the fact that some health boards have rejected the allocations on the basis——

The Deputy will be afforded ample opportunity of giving vent to his feelings in this matter if he avails of an opportunity of speaking on the budget debate.

(Interruptions.)

These are just platitudes.

I will ask Deputy Deasy, for the last time, to read his motion.

I have a different point of order——

I will hear the Deputy later.

An allegation has been made that the Government have decided not to proceed with the construction of Tallaght Regional Hospital. Will the Minister or the Taoiseach say whether this is the case?

Deputy Rabbitte, please resume your seat.

A great many people want to know whether Tallaght Regional Hospital——

Deputy Rabbitte, please resume your seat or leave the House.

(Interruptions.)

Deputy Deasy, I have called you four times.

My motion is short but it is probably just as important as the previous issue. In accordance with Standing Order 30, I wish to raise at the commencement of public business today the following matter: the potentially detrimental effects of the current proposal by the EC Commission on the future of agriculture, jobs in related industries and the country's economy in general.

Having fully considered the matter, I do not consider it one contemplated by the Standing Order in question. Therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.

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