Before coming to the Order of Business, 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.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I wish to seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public and national concern, namely, the 80% cost increase to €183 million in the past two years of renting accommodation and office space for State Departments and agencies; the concentration of over 90% of the State rent spent in the Dublin area, with an uneven distribution of State rents countrywide; the considerable portion of State rents wastefully expended on unallocated properties; to call on the Government to examine the value for money aspect of purchasing property for State use, as opposed to leasing it; and to call for the establishment of an independent State agency to oversee the management of State accommodation requirements, with a view to securing optimum value for taxpayers' money.
I request the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a specific and urgent matter of public interest, namely, the revelation that the company brought in to mediate between Cork Airport and the Dublin Airport Authority over the debt liability that Cork Airport is expected to carry into the future, is the same company that acted as adviser to the Dublin Airport Authority and prepared the business plan for Cork Airport; the conflict of interest that such an appointment may create; and the urgency to address reports that the new Cork Airport Authority may have to carry a debt of €100 million, which will put the future of Cork Airport at risk and has already led to the threat of two airlines withdrawing from the airport.
In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 31, I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring attention, namely, the urgent need for the Dáil to debate the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and, in particular, the calling of an international conference sponsored by the United Nations so as to avoid the imminent threat of a civil war in Iraq and further violent confrontations in Palestine as a result of the unilateral actions that have led to the abandonment of such peace proposals as exist. In view of the importance of this issue, I hope you will agree to my request, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major national importance, namely, that the Government should save 200 women, or more, from dying from breast cancer by making the National Treatment Purchase Fund available to provide a temporary breast-screening service to women living in the south and west of Ireland pending the full national roll-out of BreastCheck, which is estimated to take place in 2007 or later.
I seek the adjournment of the House under the terms of Standing Order 31 to debate an issue of urgent national importance, namely, the continuing lack of real action to tackle the growing levels of suicide among our young people, particularly young males; and the need for serious investment to deal with this avoidable tragedy by providing: community and recreational facilities, the full roll-out of educational welfare officers to tackle the root causes, and community-friendly planning laws to create a sense of community so that people feel wanted in a community, as well as a range of back-up support services to deal with people who may be feeling vulnerable.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to obtain an explanation from the Government on a matter of urgent public concern, namely, how a Monsanto GM food-promoting, multinational company was accredited as an Irish participant at the World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong last December, given that the vast majority of people in Ireland and the EU generally are opposed to GM food and that Monsanto is using the Irish Government as a trojan horse to gain a foothold for GM food in Ireland; and if the Government will cease flirting with GM companies that threaten Irish food marketing and environmental integrity at home and abroad.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to raise the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the report of the Equality Authority and the National Youth Council of Ireland entitled Inequality and Stereotyping of Young People; and the urgent need to redefine the age ground under the Equal Status Acts to extend the provisions of the Acts on the age ground to people under 18 years.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.
Before proceeding, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, it would be worth requesting the committee that rules our proceedings, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to define the term "urgency". It is reasonable to speculate on how many people must die in an imminent civil war before you would regard it as urgent. I find these rulings quite absurd.
Hear, hear.
Perhaps the Government Whip will indicate when he intends to provide time for a full debate on this matter. We should not wait for a religious-based civil war to emerge. Nor should we wait, because the European Union is inactive, to deal substantially with the impasse that has arisen in Palestine, including the occupied areas of Gaza, east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Quite frankly, I find these rulings to be absurd.
I referred to the fact that 200 women will have to die before BreastCheck will be up and running in the south and west.
We cannot discuss these matters now.
It is ridiculous.
We are moving on to the Order of Business.
Money would save these people's lives. They should be saved.
Deputy Cowley should resume his seat.
They should not be allowed to die because of Government neglect, as usual.
The Deputy is being disorderly.
This has been going on for donkey's years.
I call the Order of Business.
BreastCheck is available on the east coast but not in the west. This is due to Government neglect.
I call the Minister on the Order of Business.
How many more women will have to die before BreastCheck is extended to the south and west? It is a scandal.
The Deputy is being disorderly. He should resume his seat.