Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the scandalous proposal by the Minister for Health and Children to take 15% of a person's estate in payment for his or her nursing home care.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Thousands of families could be forced to remortgage or sell their homes after the death of their parents——
(Interruptions).
Deputy Healy-Rae without interruption.
We are not interrupting. We are encouraging.
——to pay for care in their parents' final years, particularly if both parents fall ill and cannot be taken care of at home. The elderly have contributed to the country by paying taxes and building the economy to a high level. Why should this burden be placed on them in their later years? I object to this proposal in the strongest manner and publicly condemn it.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Senator Paddy Burke was in favour of it last week.
(Interruptions).
They would be lucky.
It is not a laughing matter, Minister. Deputy Healy-Rae is 100% right.
Will Deputy Healy allow Deputy Finian McGrath to speak without interruption?
In the same accent, please.
I could not follow that. I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance and concern, namely, the delay in publishing the results of the investigation into the Stardust fire tragedy. I call on the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to meet the Stardust relatives, to support them in their efforts to deal with this urgent national issue and to end the delay.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public and national concern, namely, the failure of the Department of Health and Children for more than two and a half years to appoint a chief dental officer, leading to major delays in the provision of publicly funded dental treatment and oral surgery services for children and, in particular, special needs patients with complex dental needs, and the deficit in planning future oral health strategy. I call on the Minister for Health and Children to expedite the appointment of a chief dental officer as a matter of urgency to ensure that oral and dental services are not diminished further.
In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 31, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the murder of another man in the Dublin inner city area last night, which brings to 24 the number of gun murders this year, and the need for the Government to get a grip on the situation and for the Taoiseach to take charge of the situation and agree a strategy with the Garda to put gangs out of business and gangleaders behind bars.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the need for the Government to schedule emergency Dáil time to explain and debate its immediate and long-term strategies to bring a halt to the recent spate of violent killings — five in the past six days — including the steps being taken to bring those responsible to justice, to prevent further killings and to ensure the safety of local communities from harm and fear over the Christmas period.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I ask that Dáil Éireann be adjourned under Standing Order 31 to deal with a matter of utmost urgency, namely, to have the Government formulate a comprehensive and effective response to the record levels of gun crime and murder and to discuss what the Minister for Defence said, that Senator Brady was speaking for the Government when he suggested that troops should take to the streets, and whether this initiative has been discussed with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.