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 discuss an issue of urgent national importance, namely, the current underspend of €3.65 billion in the funding allocated to the BMW region under the national development plan for the period 2000 to 2006 and in the light of the revelation that €4 million in tourism funding for the west was reallocated last year to child care programmes and given that there is now only 11 months remaining in the lifetime of the national development plan what measures are being taken to ensure that the funding allocated to the BMW region will be expended in the BMW region.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to raise a matter of urgent public importance and interest, the new deportation order issued against student Olunkunle Eluhanla in defiance of the clear wish of his classmates and the community in Palmerstown and of the Irish people generally who prevailed upon the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to have him returned from his initial ill-judged deportation.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public and national concern, namely, road safety on the N7 in the vicinity of the Curragh. Much needed cattle grids that are required to prevent livestock from straying on to the road have not been installed on some roads adjacent to the Curragh in spite of a commitment given in the 1993 N7 inquiry. Funding for these works must be provided by central Government immediately for the protection of the public and in the interests of animal welfare. Currently a sheep farmer from the Curragh is in Portlaoise Prison because of a protest associated with the issue.
The Deputy cannot add to the notice long since given.
I propose the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public and national concern, namely, the casemix incentivisation scheme of hospital funding introduced by the Department of Health and Children which, in allocating funds based on previous years' casemix criteria, fails to take into account the unique service difficulties prevailing in certain hospitals, which will have the effect of forcing major hospital managements to process patients like statistics, deflecting them to smaller hospitals, which do not attract the same level of brownie points in terms of productivity, to maintain their own high casemix productivity levels, making vital decisions on purely financial grounds rather than on the basis of care or need.
I ask under the terms of Standing Order 31 that this House be adjourned to debate an issue of national importance, public importance and importance to the Tánaiste, namely, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's continuing refusal to grant an amnesty to all overseas nationals who sought refuge in this country as minors and who have spent at least three years in Ireland, including, for example, the case of Olunkunle Eluhanla, who the Minister allowed to remain following the efforts of the Palmerstown community and particularly Pobalscoil Isolde, but has now made a decision to deport on seemingly, by any right-thinking member of society's view, spiteful grounds; and to discuss legislation that would introduce a balanced and fair policy for the treatment of internationals such as Kunle and his classmate, Tunde Omoniyi, who came here as children, who have roots here, have built friendships and, if allowed to stay, could make a positive contribution to Irish society and the economy. I call on the Tánaiste to make a statement to clarify whether she agrees with her colleague's decision.
I seek leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter, the sacking of a shop steward with the union Mandate from her position at Dunnes Stores in the Ashleaf centre in Crumlin for wearing a union badge on her store uniform, the company's subsequent refusal to attend a meeting about the disciplinary action because the worker was accompanied by her trade union official and the urgent necessity for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to intervene directly with Dunnes Stores to ensure the immediate reinstatement of this worker and to make it clear to the company that such anti-trade union behaviour will not be tolerated.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent national importance, namely, in light of the fact that Teagasc yesterday stated that vital elements of its advice to Government on the nitrates action plan was excluded from the final regulation and that the new regulation which is due to come into force on Wednesday next without guidelines being issued to farmers will leave them liable to a jail sentence of up to six months, there is now an immediate need for the Government to withdraw the current legislation and to provide for an implementable and workable framework.
On the basis that the Order of Business will allow statements by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children on the loss of 10% of HSE capital expenditure of €558 million for 2006, I withdraw my request under Standing Order 31.
Having considered the other matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.