Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of items under Standing Order 31.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the deplorable conditions at Dromore West national school. According to the Minister for Education and Science, to fully outline the delay and sanction a new school for Dromore West, which is years overdue, students and teachers must endure appalling conditions, including a severe lack of space, subsiding foundations, overcrowding, high radon levels, a lack of proper kitchen facilities, a leaky roof, dampness, a lack of a girls' cloakroom, a lack of adequate bathroom facilities for teachers and the use of an old church and portakabin as temporary accommodation. As the population of Dromore is rapidly growing, this issue must be urgently addressed.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of local and national importance requiring urgent attention, namely, the need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to intervene with the Commission for Energy Regulation to immediately withdraw the 34% gas price increase effective from 1 October and the proposed electricity 20% price increase from January 2007 in light of the hardships these increases will cause families and the fact that oil prices have decreased by 20% since these announcements were made.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise the situation at the site of the proposed gas refinery at Bellanaboy, the fact that the Garda has been used to enforce a clearly unpopular development among the people of north County Mayo that has no benefit to either the local community or the national economy and the need for the Government to order the Shell-led consortium to cease all work on the project immediately.
I request the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, in selling the national telecommunications network into private ownership, the Government has created a private monopoly, which highlights the urgent need for the Government to tackle the impossible situation where 40,000 Smart Telecom customers are without services and are being held to ransom. If the Minister does not act to provide an interim solution, the message will be that the only supplier capable of guaranteeing a service is Eircom.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the background of the Government's clear siding with the interests of Shell against the people of north County Mayo in allowing work to proceed at the Bellanaboy refinery and to examine why neither the company nor the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has made public the terms of the licence granted to the consortium.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the disgraceful manner in which the State has consistently taken the side of the Corrib gas consortium against the interests of the people of north County Mayo and the economic interests of the people of Ireland in forcing through a development that is unsafe and will bring no economic benefits given the current licensing and revenue terms.
Some €2 billion.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise an important matter, namely, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources must urgently address the serious regulatory failure that has occurred in the telecommunications sector in light of the overnight withdrawal of fixed line and broadband Internet services for more than 45,000 Smart Telecom customers and the ongoing regulatory market and Government failures plaguing the Irish telecommunications industry and seriously hindering families and businesses across the country; and if we will make a statement on the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of national and local importance, namely, the use of hundreds of gardaí against the wishes of the majority of local people to force the restarting of the Corrib gas project — resulting this morning in the injuring of two peaceful protestors by gardaí and my illegal detention in breach of Article 15.13 of the Constitution, which prohibits the detention of a Deputy on his way to this Chamber — that has little or no benefit for this country and is a disgrace, given the existence of drug barons in Limerick, Dublin and everywhere else and unguarded airports through which drugs are pouring and the fact that money can be spent elsewhere while people are crying for gardaí. This morning, 170 gardaí stopped and battered a peaceful protest. It is an absolute disgrace.
That is a disgraceful accusation and the Deputy should withdraw it.
Outrageous.
Deputy Cowley has accused the Garda of battering people in County Mayo.
That is exactly what happened. I saw it.
The Deputy should withdraw his remark.
He is negative.
(Interruptions).
I walked half a mile this morning with three bags to render assistance to a girl who could hardly breathe because she had been held by her throat by two gardaí while a ban garda punched her in her back and she screamed for assistance. She was lifted off the ground. That is true.
The Chair is on his feet and I ask Deputy Cowley to resume his seat.
A few little lines that said——
The Deputy should not make allegations in the House that he cannot substantiate.
I can substantiate them.
Under Standing Order 31, a Deputy submits a notice to my office that is either accepted or rejected. Deputy Cowley did not submit the notice he read today. He is in breach of the Standing Order.
What is the Deputy up to?
He is opportunistic.
This matter is so serious that something needed to be said.
This morning, the Government turned Rossport into a police state for Shell.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.