I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public and national concern, namely, the report recently furnished by the North Eastern Health Board to the Minister for Health and Children outlining the deficiencies in services and infrastructure in the North Eastern Health Board; clearly detailing the level of under funding in the north east, which is 21% below the national per capita average funding, thereby impacting adversely on the level of services provided in the North Eastern Health Board region in disability, mental health, acute hospital and community care services; the fact that 23 major projects are still outstanding and that services in the region are seriously under staffed in comparison with the national average, that is, a population to staff ratio of 100 people per health staff member in contrast with the national average of 70 persons per health staff member.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major national importance, namely, the scandal of 63 beds lying idle in Mayo General Hospital, 33 of which are orthopaedic beds, which we are told will never open because the hospital is awaiting sanction of staff, and another 28 of which are elderly medicine beds while two are palliative care beds. These have been lying unused since 2001 while 30 ill older people lie for days on trolleys, blocking corridors and over filling cubicles in accident and emergency departments, due to the failure of the Minister for Health and Children to lift the embargo on recruitment so the 13 nurses required to open those beds can be recruited.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 on the following important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the need to debate the comments by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that inequality is good for the economy, his dogged opposition to rights based equality legislation and the necessity to appoint a reasonable person as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who would have at least some understanding of the title of the ministry and his or her responsibilities thereunder.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.