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 Perry – the need to proceed with the proposed extension for the Ursuline College, Sligo, which is urgently needed; (2) Deputy Finian McGrath – the urgent need for more investment in our health services to reduce waiting lists and ward closures; (3) Deputy Joe Higgins – the concern over the case of a young man (details supplied) found unconscious in Rathfarnham shortly after being released from Rathfarnham Garda station; (4) Deputy O'Connor – whether the Tánaiste is reconsidering the decision to reduce the number of places available on community employment schemes, particularly having regard to the challenges being created for community and voluntary groups; (5) Deputy Ring – the need for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to reconsider her adjustments to the back to education allowance and allow payment to continue for the summer months; (6) Deputy Morgan – the necessity for the Minister for Health and Children to carry out a full and thorough investigation into the symphysiotomies carried out on women in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and elsewhere in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s; to address the complete inadequacy of the report from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists into this matter; to examine the role of the Catholic Church in promoting this abusive procedure; the right of victims of this procedure which was criticised by international medical experts as far back as the 1950s; to provide answers as to why they were subjected to such barbaric treatment; and to address what provision will be made for the medical needs of these women who continue to suffer greatly as a result of an outdated medical procedure which was carried out on them without their consent; (7) Deputy Stanton – the need for Killeagh national school, County Cork, Roll No. 17297 U/09A to be provided with extra temporary accommodation next September to cater for a very large increase in enrolment; (8) Deputy Seán Ryan – the delay in providing adequate redress to taxi drivers arising from the decision of the Government to deregulate the industry in November 2000 without giving consideration to its impact on taxi drivers and their families at the time; (9) Deputy Connolly – the application to establish a new second level all-Irish Gaelcholáiste in Monaghan which has been deferred for at least a year; (10) Deputy Neville – the Pollock report on the facilities provision at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin; (11) Deputy Coveney – the need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to increase the quantity of contracts to be awarded under the AER VI from 500 MW to 750 MW to ensure that Ireland achieves the target of the creation of 500 MW of green energy by 2005; (12) Deputy Ó Caoláin – the dangerous and disgraceful circumstances and conditions that students attending Castleblayney College in County Monaghan endure while pursuing their education and the intolerable work environment that their teachers are currently forced to accept; (13) Deputy Boyle – the impediments to urban renewal and development in Passage West, County Cork; (14) Deputy John Bruton – the risks to the survival of the rendering industry in the Republic, the risks of spread of animal disease and the breach of EU competition rules, arising from recently commenced artificially induced cross-Border trade in offal.
The matters raised by Deputies O'Connor, John Bruton, Perry and Connolly have been selected for discussion and will be taken at the conclusion of business.