Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I propose to deal with those topics separately and I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call Deputy Connaughton.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
(Interruptions).
I am sorry, Deputy Ó Caoláin. Please allow Deputy Connaughton to speak without interruption.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise the widespread downgrading of post offices in rural Ireland. The recent decision of An Post to downgrade the post office at Newbridge, Ballinasloe, County Galway, is nothing short of a disgrace following the downgrading of other post offices in County Galway, such as Clonburren and Kiltormer. I ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to intervene regarding Newbridge to allow the new proprietors sufficient time to build up the business, which would in turn benefit An Post and in particular would be most beneficial to a small, rural parish such as Newbridge, to whose social and economic well-being the full facilities of a post office are vital.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major concern, namely, the terrible plight of hill farmers, who are being threatened with up to 40% reductions in REPS payments, and the threat that it poses to all farmers with commonage and SAC land under area 8 application, who are forced to be in either REPS or the national compensation scheme. That is discrimination of the highest order, since the new REPS in non-designated areas increased REPS payments by up to 30%, whereas farmers in commonages and SACs are facing a reduction of up to 40% and are not eligible for extra measures. The net loss to 2,500 County Mayo farmers will be €6.1 million, which will result in many more farmers leaving the land.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following issue of national importance, namely, the need for the Government, specifically the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, to address the serious effect of the high cost of fuel on hauliers nationally; its effect on competitiveness; the fear that the increase in prices will drive heretofore legitimate users of road diesel to the black economy; the plans the Government is pursuing with its EU partners to find alternative sources of fuel; the Government's plans, while holding the EU Presidency, to introduce proposals to bring more certainty to fuel prices and regulate oil companies; in the interests of transparency, the need to have oil prices quoted in euro as well as dollars; and, as an emergency measure, the need for the Government to reduce excise duty on fuel, reversing the 5 cent increase imposed in the last budget.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent importance, namely, in light of the virtual collapse of the penalty points system following the recent court decision on the use of Garda speed detection equipment, the urgent need for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to explain why such equipment was purchased without a print-out facility, and for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, to state categorically how he intends to address that loophole; the impact it will have on penalty points issued to date; and the time scale for addressing the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the failure of the air traffic control system in use at Dublin Airport last Sunday and to draw lessons necessary from that incident to ensure best practice in protecting passenger safety.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to examine media reports that Bord na gCon is set to give €250,000 of taxpayers' money to the Irish Coursing Club and, given the lack of awareness regarding the Government proposal to utilise State funding to promote that cruel activity, ask that the Government intervene to ensure that taxpayers' money is not misused in such a manner.
Having given the matters full consideration, I do not consider them to be in order under Standing Order 31.