Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 30 dealing with two different topics. I propose to deal with these topics separately and will call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call Deputy Brennan to state the matter of which he has given notice to me.
Request to Move Adjournment of Dáil Under Standing Order 30.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil to debate a matter of specific and important public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the allegations by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications of corruption in semi-State companies, his attacks on the staff of semi-State companies, the alleged surveillance of the Minister and senior executives and the Minister's refusal to answer questions before the Oireachtas committee or to make documents available to it despite a unanimous request to do so.
Having considered the matter fully, I do not consider it to be one contemplated by the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion. I call Deputy Cowen to state the matter of which he has given notice to me.
I seek your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following matter of public concern and importance requiring urgent consideration, namely, the continuing crisis in the Irish sheep sector and the failure of the Minister to have the matter of depressed sheep farmer incomes addressed by way of compensatory measures from the European Union.
Having considered the matter fully I do not consider it to be one contemplated by the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.