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 Boylan — The problems in Cavan general hospital arising from the emphasis on having as many vacant beds as possible, resulting in pressure on surgeons for an early discharge of post operative patients to achieve minimum occupancy of beds and the resulting threat of closure of a ward; (2) Deputy Ferris — The proposals, if any, the Minister for Health has to set up a national programme for treatment of alcoholism which would bring together various strands of expertise in the country; (3) Deputy Jim Higgins — The closure of Clare Morris Ltd., Claremorris, County Mayo, with the loss of 38 jobs and the need for the urgent intervention of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment in the matter; (4) Deputy Dukes — If the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry met representatives of a company (details supplied) in May 1992; if so, the details of what transpired at that meeting; and whether that meeting had any connection with this company's current interest in acquiring the State's remaining ordinary shareholding in Greencore PLC; (5) Deputy Flanagan — The matter of the dispute in the Eastern Health Board and consequent adverse effect on treatment and services; (6) Deputy Enda Kenny — The provision of phase two of the general hospital for Castlebar, County Mayo; (7) Deputy Ó Cuív — When the Minister for Education intends to sanction the signing of the contract for the erection of an eight classroom extension at Athenry vocational school, County Galway; (8) Deputy Batt O'Keeffe — If the Minister for Education will allay the fears of parents and students by giving a commitment to continuing the alternative leaving certificate programme; (9) Deputy Sheehan — The future of the branch employment office in Dunmanway, County Cork, and the plans made to fill the position of branch employment office manager in that office which is becoming vacant shortly; (10) Deputy Doyle—The serious implications of the overnight developments at the Irish Permanent Building Society; (11) Deputy Yates — If the Minister for Finance or the Central Bank will make a statement in relation to the alleged irregularities in relation to the affairs of the Irish Permanent Building Society; in view of the responsibilities that the Minister and the supervisory authority have under the Building Societies Act, 1989, if he will outline under which particular aspects of the Act these breaches may have occurred; and if he considers it satisfactory that in these circumstances the Central Bank is legally debarred from commenting on individual circumstances such as these.
I have selected for discussion the matters raised by the following deputies: (1) Deputy Jim Higgins; (2) Deputy Boylan and (3) Deputy Ó Cuív.