Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I propose to 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 raise matters of national importance, namely, the further delay in publishing the Disability Bill, in breach of the programme for Government; the 2,826 people with intellectual disabilities seeking day care, respite and residential places; the blatant breach of the O'Donoghue court judgment of 1997 at Enable Ireland where 15 students with multiple disabilities are being refused a service in the July programme; the fact that people are still on trolleys in hospitals, the urgent need for more bed spaces and the urgent need that the Government immediately put in place adequate resources and comprehensive infrastructure in our health service.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the profligate overspending of this Government in numerous spheres, particularly transport, where the Luas light rail system on two lines has been constructed at a cost of €778 million, compared to the original estimate of €318 million for a three-line system. The Dublin Port Tunnel cost has risen to €715 million as against the original estimated cost of €220 million. Nine road schemes around the country are to cost €1.6 billion, compared to the original budget of €538 million, out of a total roads programme over-spend of €9.8 billion. The possible projected cost for the various sitting tribunals is more than €300 million. By contrast, in the areas of health, education and social welfare there have been stealth taxes, service cuts, gross mismanagement and utter incompetence.
This is like a Second Stage speech.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the decline in salmon numbers returning to spawn in Irish rivers over a 20-year period, and in recognition of the unsustainable numbers now returning to spawn, the need for the Government to no longer issue licences for draught net, drift net or snap nets for use in Irish waters, and that the net men be compensated for any loss of income.
We look forward to hearing the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources respond to that issue.
I will have to ask Deputy Ferris about it.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the closure over the entire summer of the 15-bed care unit of the elderly ward at Mayo General Hospital for a period extending from 2 July to September 2004; the closure of the day service unit at Mayo General Hospital for two weeks, and to debate how day patients and older people are expected to cope without these essential services over the entire summer period.
That is a matter of national importance.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise the following specific matter of public interest requiring urgent public attention, namely, the serious implication of the further restriction on eligibility for rent supplement allowance by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with responsibility for housing and urban renewal, Deputy Noel Ahern, and the urgent need to provide significant additional funds to local authorities to allow them to meet the extra demand for public housing that will arise from this decision. In view of the importance of this issue I hope the Ceann Comhairle will agree to consider it.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the revelation that the lives of women who are not Irish citizens are being put at risk by virtue of being forced to resort to back-street abortions; the need for an urgent and sympathetic study to establish the extent of the problem of immigrant women with crisis pregnancies, and the particular difficulties of women in this position, regarded by the State as being in the country illegally; the need for urgent measures, including changes to the law if necessary, to ensure that immigrant women with crisis pregnancies can make a free choice to avail of any of the options open to women generally in the State.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, in the light of reports concerning back-street abortions on immigrant women that the Government state what steps it intends to take to address the climate of fear brought about by the restrictions on rent supplement and the debate on the citizenship referendum.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs come before the House to detail and debate her latest proposal on the payment of rent supplement.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.