Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of national importance regarding the removal of Teagasc advisory offices from rural Ireland, including the closure of the office in Bailieborough, County Cavan. The transfer from east Cavan to Ballyhaise of the advisory service will force many farmers out of business. The extra travel time of one hour each way for valuable advisers will cost extra in terms of time and expenses. Has the Government a commitment in real terms to rural Ireland? Government withdrawal from agriculture has caused the problems in Teagasc.
The Deputy has gone beyond the motion submitted to my office.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the imminent closure of the Teagasc office in Cork and the effect it will have on agriculture in County Cork, including the displacement of 14 staff in the office.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a vital and urgent matter and to allow the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, to make a statement on the appalling and callous decision by the American management of Pall Ireland Limited to close its medical production facility in Tipperary town and transfer 150 jobs to Puerto Rico and Mexico.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of national importance, namely, the escalation of the work-to-rule dispute of public health doctors, including a ban on co-operation with the anti-terrorist effort, and the need for the Minister for Health and Children to address changes in doctors' work practices and pay as recommended in the Brennan review report 1994.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely, the ever-growing crisis in the management and funding of the health services. It includes industrial action in the accident and emergency department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, over-crowding at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, where patients are forced to queue for treatment in corridors without even the comfort of a chair, and lay-offs at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, a key strategic resource for the provision of many specialist treatments which are unavailable elsewhere. All this is a result of inadequate financial support – hardly a world class health service.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss an important matter of public interest, namely, the further damage which will be caused to the agricultural industry and to the livelihoods of farmers as a result of the loss of funding which has led to the closure of Teagasc offices and facilities nationwide.
Having considered the matters raised, I do not consider them to be in order under Standing Order 31.
On a point of order, a number of Deputies submitted these requests—
That is not a point of order.
You have not even heard me out, a Cheann Comhairle.
It is not necessary.
I tried to raise the matter under a Private Notice Question and on the Adjournment. Teagasc services are being butchered nationwide.
The Chair has ruled on the issue. If the Deputy is not satisfied, the Office of the Ceann Comhairle will be pleased to discuss the matter with him.
How can we raise the issue of the butchering of Teagasc offices—
The matter cannot be raised at this stage. I call the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions).
The matter is relevant because it arises from underfunding by the Department.
(Interruptions).
The Chair has ruled that the matter is not in order.
It is totally wrong that we cannot raise the issue in this House.
On a point of order—
Sorry, Deputy, it is not a point of order. If the Deputy wishes to come to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle, I will be pleased to discuss the matter with him.
I want to raise—
The Deputy is out of order. I call the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.