Before the Order of Business I intend to deal with a number of related notices under Standing Order 30 from Deputies Molloy, Séamus Brennan and Sargent. I propose to call the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my offices.
Returns to Writs: Constituencies of Donegal North-East and Dublin West. - Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 30.
I wish to raise a matter of urgent public concern, the possible delay in the construction of the light rail transit system for Dublin given yesterday's statement from the European Commission that further studies are required before the project can go ahead.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the gross misleading of the Dáil, Seanad and public by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications on at least six occasions, including 12 December and 14 December 1995, 31 January, 14 February, 5 March and other dates this year, when he deliberately concealed from the House the information that in the previous November he agreed to an investigation of the entire light rail project by the EU and to further discuss how this concealment has put the urgent and much needed funding for all three priority lines in jeopardy by the deadline dates, particularly as the strategy was identified by the independent DTI group after four years of analysis and accepted by this and the previous Government.
I remind the House, as I have often done in the past, of the long standing convention that, if serious charges are to be made against a Member of the House, it must not be done in a flippant manner across the floor of the House by innuendo or otherwise. It is so serious that a substantive motion should be invoked in relation to such matters.
Back it up.
I move that the business of the Dáil be adjourned to allow a discussion on the funding and implementation of the proposed light rail network in Dublin with a view to ascertaining on what basis the decision was taken not to serve Dublin Airport and already disadvantaged areas of north Dublin. Given the implications of this issue in terms of EU funding, no matter could be more urgent. I urge the Ceann Comhairle to accede to my request; lesser debacles have brought down Governments.
Having considered the matters fully, I do not consider them to be contemplated by the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion. However, the subject matter will be dealt with on the Adjournment this evening.