Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will 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, namely, the proposed visit by President Bush to the Italian Ambassador's Residence in Lucan this June as first revealed in the new Lucan Gazette newspaper which quotes as its source the US Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Jim Kenny, and verified also, according to Lucan Gazette staff, by the Italian Ambassador; and to discuss the security and public relations ramifications which will arise from such a visit, including the impact on residents of Lucan who will face significant disruption to their business and personal lives, not to mention an influx of international media, a large number of protesters against the unjust war in Iraq and a heavy US security presence who will have a huge job on their hands.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent national importance and concern, namely, the spiralling costs of tribunals and public inquiries which have cost in excess of €138 million to date and which have been estimated to ultimately exceed €500 million at a time when the benefits of widows, widowers and lone parents are being cut by €5.8 million; the apparently limitless system of per diem rates and brief fees applicable to barristers and the feasibility or otherwise of introducing a contract system of remuneration which would have the effect of streamlining and expediting the deliberations of the various tribunals and public inquiries.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to allow a debate on a matter of major importance, namely, the failure of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to remedy the disgraceful situation at Mayo General Hospital where 21 people spent last Tuesday night and yesterday on trolleys in the casualty department. These are people who were assessed by the casualty unit staff as needing urgent admission to Mayo General Hospital but because of lack of hospital beds the 21 people had to spend the night on trolleys, which is not fair to the patients involved or to the dedicated and overworked staff of Mayo General Hospital.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration. In the light of the extraordinary decision by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council early yesterday morning to rezone Dún Laoghaire Golf Club for development, could the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government explain to the House his reasons for directing the council in this matter and disregarding the views of the people of Dún Laoghaire, and will he make available all correspondence that he received in regard to this matter?
I have considered the matters raised and they are not in accordance with Standing Order 31.