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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Jun 2004

Vol. 587 No. 4

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.

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.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of urgent public importance, namely, the continuing hunger strike by Caoimhe Butterly outside the Cement Roadstone premises in opposition to CRH's involvement in the building of a wall in Israel which will lead to further suppression of the Palestinian people, and the need for the Government to ensure that Irish contractors are not involved in such business dealings.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the ongoing crisis in the health service, the necessity to establish if the Hanly report remains the Government's answer to this crisis, if objections from various Ministers to Hanly have impacted on the Government's stated policy by ensuring the continued rudderless drift to even deeper crisis will continue. Where stands the future of hospitals such as Louth County Hospital, Monaghan General and Cavan General Hospitals? Does the Government have any proposals to end the crisis in the health service?

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the refusal of the Colombian magistrates to allow Irish citizens Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley, known as the Colombia Three, to leave Colombia. We agree with human rights groups in Colombia that there is nowhere safe in the country for these men because of the high profile and negative publicity relating to their case and call on the Taoiseach and the Government to use their offices with the Uribe government to secure the safe return of these men to their families in Ireland.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major importance, namely, the failure to utilise the 26 elderly assessment beds lying idle since 2001 in Mayo General Hospital, together with the two palliative care beds lying idle at the hospital since 2001 also, due to the failure to recruit nurses because of the recruitment ceiling while 14 elderly people requiring beds for acute illnesses lie on trolleys for days downstairs in the accident and emergency ward. They are too ill for nursing home beds and are occupying the circulation areas of the accident and emergency ward, so through no fault of their own they are interfering with the proper running of accident and emergency services in the hospital.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent national importance and concern, namely, the decision by the Department of Education and Science not to fund a July programme for the most disabled and dependent students at Enable Ireland, Sandymount, Dublin 4, and I call on the Minister to reverse this severe cut for the 15 students concerned in line with the proposed disability legislation. It is a disgrace that he is cutting back on services for the most disabled people.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of extreme importance regarding the future of Aer Lingus cargo facilities at Shannon Airport and the recent announcement by the company of its decision to terminate business with American Transair and North American airlines, advising them that it will no longer handle their services, which will affect many Aer Lingus workers in Shannon Airport, and the need for the Minister for Transport to intervene to spell out the Government and Aer Lingus's commitment to Shannon Airport to clear up the uncertainty facing the midwest.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to investigate the Government's continuing failure in key areas such as waste reduction, according the EPA National Waste Database published yesterday, the measures needed for effective waste reduction and the benefits of such a strategy, which would focus on producer responsibility.

Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.

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