Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of related notices under Standing Order 31 from Deputies Penrose, Joe Higgins, Naughten and Sargent. I propose to call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the implications for Irish agriculture and the economy generally of the reported confirmation of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in south Armagh, the first case on this island since 1941; the need for the Government to outline, in detail, the steps it intends to take to deal with this potentially disastrous situation and in particular the steps it now proposes to take to determine whether the disease has spread to locations within this jurisdiction; and what additional legislative or administrative measures it intends to take to protect Irish agriculture.
In view of the importance of this matter and the worrying developments overnight since I submitted my request, I hope the House will agree to this request.
(Dublin West): I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of critical importance, namely, the state of readiness of all relevant agencies to meet the looming catastrophe of a serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease especially in view of the apparent conflict between Government assertions and the actual situation on the ground and the implications of an outbreak on the economic situation, the farming community, the rural community and all those whose jobs depend on or are related to agriculture.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent national importance, namely, following the probable outbreak of foot and mouth disease in south Armagh and the transportation of sheep from this farm to Athleague, County Roscommon, the measures being taken in Roscommon and east Galway to restrict the movement of people and animals; the measures being taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to trace the 22 sheep which form part of the consignment from the UK and which remain unaccounted for by Department officials and why the Department only yesterday formed an exclusion zone in the Republic adjoining the farm in south Armagh when it was aware for a week of a suspected case of foot and mouth disease on that farm.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to address the evidence that foot and mouth disease is likely to be present on the island of Ireland and could even be present south of the Border; to ensure emergency measures are put in place to restrict further movement of people and animals; and that the Government answer the criticism that its response to date has been too little too late.
I consider the matter to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and accordingly to be in order. I propose to take Deputy Penrose's motion as it was received first in my office. I now ask Deputies who support his request to rise in their places.
Deputies rose.
I grant leave to move the motion in accordance with Standing Order 31 and it shall be taken at 3.30 p.m. or at such other time today as the Dáil may appoint.
Given the urgency and importance of this matter, the Government is prepared to take the motion after the Order of Business. As that time slot had been allocated to Private Members' Time, it is a matter for the Opposition parties.
It is a matter for the Whips.
This is a very urgent matter and a time slot of 3.30 p.m. this afternoon is probably too late. I would like the Whips to discuss the possibility of taking the motion following the Order of Business and to continue the debate following Question Time, if necessary. We may also need additional time this evening and I will not, therefore, be agreeing to the Dáil adjourning at the usual time today. Many Members wish to participate in this debate. It is a matter of grave concern. I will also raise this matter during leader's questions because there are matters which require immediate answer.
We are not going to discuss the matter now.
I know that, I am merely giving reasons for an extended sitting.
The matter will have to be discussed by the Whips as under Standing Order 31 the matter should be taken at 3.30 p.m. If alternative arrangements—
The Tánaiste has offered Government time for a debate on this matter.
We must work out a different format and that is a matter for the Whips.
It is only reasonable that the Leader of the Opposition make his point.
He is making the point.
I have one final comment. There is a yawning gap between the theory and the regulatory regime announced. This morning, a farmer within the exclusion zone south of the Border said, on a well known radio programme, that he has not yet had a visit from anyone from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
We are getting into the debate itself now. We must decide on the format for it.
I will return to this on the Opposition leader's questions.
It is a question of deciding on the format.
I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for exercising your judgment in this respect. Its unanimous endorsement is a vindication of your judgment.
I thank the Tánaiste for making time immediately available but for that to be effective we need the Taoiseach to be here. This is a crisis. Your spontaneous response to it is a vindication of that crisis. The Taoiseach should not be out of the country but should be here for part of that debate.
I, too, thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for exercising your rights under this Standing Order. Can the issue be fully dealt with today? I agree with Deputy Quinn that the Taoiseach should be present given that perhaps next week the Dáil may not be able to meet. In the event, where possible, of people not travelling from various parts of Ireland, the example may have to be set by this Parliament. We will have to extend today's business to the greatest extent possible with that possibility in mind.
We will not close the Dáil to let them off the hook for their own incompetence.
(Dublin West): There should perhaps be a period of about one hour for the Government to prepare a statement to begin proceedings as opposed to a Minister standing up and making off-the-cuff remarks, which we subsequently learn are not in accordance with what is happening. We need concrete knowledge—
What we must decide upon is the format.
(Dublin West): I suggest a short amount of time be given to allow the Government to prepare to give us a comprehensive explanation for failures to date and, particularly, looking to the future, for a strategy to combat what may be a substantial crisis for our people.
Standing Order 31 is a motion to adjourn and it must be taken as the last item of business. The Whips should meet to discuss an alternative format. There is no point in continuing a discussion as we are merely using time. A separate, alternative format must be decided upon.
I suggest a short adjournment now so that the Whips will come back with a formula. It is unsatisfactory for us to proceed with business without knowing what is happening. If we had a ten minute adjournment now it could be sorted out among the Whips.
Hear, hear.
There will be a 15 minute suspension of the sitting.
Sitting suspended at 10.45 a.m. and resumed at 11 a.m.