Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will call on 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 debate the following urgent matter: the need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to intervene immediately between staff and management at ESB to ensure that 2,300 workers do not have to resort to strike action from next Monday.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter: the unacceptable and disgraceful fact that a single consultant rheumatologist must look after the entire Western Health Board area, which comprises three counties as well as counties Clare and Limerick, while 1,000 people wait in terrible pain for four years for a first appointment to see the rheumatologist, meaning that the window of opportunity in which successful and early treatment can prevent permanent joint damage in the case of rheumatoid arthritis and the consequent severe pain and permanent disability is missed, resulting in decreased life expectancy and a life of pain in a wheelchair.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter: the future of salmon drift and draft fishermen in light of the fact that the salmon season for commercial fishermen closes at the end of July, the probability, due to the late arrival of salmon on the west coast, that drift and draft fishermen will be unable to fill their respective quotas——
There are no salmon on the east coast.
——and the need for the Minister to extend the salmon season into August for at least two weeks so that dependent salmon fishermen can make a viable income.
Those boys get the salmon before we can get at them.
The Minister is expanding his range of expertise.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter: the need to clarify the Taoiseach's perceived endorsement of the practice of transporting persons through Shannon Airport as detainees to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, even though their detention conditions are in breach of the Geneva Convention, according to Amnesty International, the Pope, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council of Europe and Human Rights Watch. I understand that concerns have been expressed by President McAleese and the Taoiseach.
The Deputy is going well beyond the terms of the notice he submitted to my office.
There is no end to the number of people who have expressed concern about this matter.
Having considered the matters raised, I have decided that they are not in order under Standing Order 31.