Vol. 542 No. 4
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. I call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
In regard to the first topic, I have received notice from Deputy Gay Mitchell and now call on him to state the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to address the following urgent public business, namely, the need for a statement from the Minister for Health and Children on the capacity of hospitals to handle emergencies; the critical state of the ambulance service; the lack of sufficient medications to meet certain types of emergencies and the need for more urgent, comprehensive and proactive steps to prepare for national emergencies.
Having considered the matter fully I do not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and therefore cannot grant leave to move the motion.
In regard to the second topic, I have received notice from Deputy Seamus Healy and now call on him to state the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 on a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the call by Mrs. Mary Robinson for the suspension of the bombing of Afghanistan in order to facilitate the provision of emergency aid to its citizens and to arrest the death toll of 300,000 children each year.
Having considered the matter fully I do not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and therefore cannot grant leave to move the motion.
In regard to the third topic, I have received notice from Deputy Trevor Sargent and now call on him to state the matter.
I request that Dáil Éireann be suspended under Standing Order 31 to address the urgent need for a co-ordinated and properly resourced emergency plan to instantly respond to any direct or indirect attack on Ireland – or close to Ireland – involving biological, chemical, nuclear or other means and to include the establishment of facilities in Ireland to quickly test for anthrax, for example. The Government needs to respond quickly given the mockery being made in our newspapers which are saying: "please do not bomb before Christmas because we are not ready".
Having considered the matter fully, and allowing that it will be dealt with during Question Time today, it is not one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and therefore I cannot grant leave to move the motion.
