I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 21 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Keaveney – the need to outline the steps he will take to secure the future of the whitefish fleet as it pertains to harbours such as Greencastle, particularly in light of the Fischler remarks; (2) Deputy Cowley – the need to introduce compensatory and equitable measures for Mayo farmers who are suffering excessively and face a bleak future due to de-stocking rules for commonage farmers; (3) Deputies McGrath and Penrose – the urgent need for the Department of Finance – Office of Public Works – to devise and implement measures to ensure that the recent flooding in Willow Park Estate and surrounding area of Athlone, County Westmeath, does not reoccur; (4) Deputy Crawford – the need to immediately make an 80% payment to suckler cow farmers who have been placed under inspection and to ensure these family farmers are paid this week; (5) Deputy O'Sullivan – the need to provide resources in 2003 to fully develop the specialist breast cancer centre at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick; (6) Deputy Coveney – the need to protect the fishing area known as the Irish Box against unrestricted access from the Spanish fishing fleet to secure Irish fish stocks and the Irish fishing industry into the future as part of the Common Fisheries Policy negotiations.
The matters raised by Deputies Crawford, McGrath and Penrose, Keaveney and Coveney have been selected for discussion.