Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31 dealing with three different topics. I propose to deal with these topics separately and will call on 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 ask the Taoiseach to postpone the holding of this year's census of population because of the threat of foot and mouth disease and also to have set aside a recent directive by the Central Statistics Office to debar farmers or their spouses from acting as enumerators.
Having considered the matter fully, I do not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and therefore I cannot grant leave to move the motion.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely the urgent need for the Government to withdraw its Supreme Court appeal against the High Court judgment and order of Mr. Justice Barr in the Sinnott case, having regard to previous undertakings given in the Dáil and the clear indications that a majority of Members of the House now favour the withdrawal of this appeal.
Having considered the matter fully, the Ceann Comhairle does not consider the matter to be contemplated by Standing Order 31, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.
In regard to the third topic, I have received notices from Deputies Joe Higgins and Sargent.
(Dublin West): Under Standing Order 31 I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following matter of crucial public importance: the failure of the Government to resolve the dispute with the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland, the consequent difficulties for students facing examinations, the campaign of vilification of the secondary teachers by sections of the media and the consequent potential for long-term damage to education in the State.
Under Standing Order 31 I wish to raise the following matter of public importance, that the Dáil be adjourned in order to hear from the Minister for Education and Science and to consider what hopes now exist for the resolution of the ASTI dispute given that oral examinations have already been disrupted and written examinations are pending.
Having considered the matter fully, the Ceann Comhairle does not consider the matter to be contemplated by Standing Order 31, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.