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 seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the important matter of the extremely poor conditions at St. Catherine's national school in Aughrim, Ballinasloe, County Galway, where 120 pupils and their teachers operate in mice-infested, damp and grossly over-crowded conditions which include three fabricated buildings and where the huge increase in new houses in the locality demands a new school to cater for at least eight teachers and all ancillary services, and to determine whether it is the intention of the Department of Education and Science to build such a new school.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the latest information available to his Department regarding 300 jobs at the Motorola plant in Cork and to ask if he received any communications indicating that the jobs were at risk. If so, what action did he take and what are his plans for discussions with company management with a view to saving the jobs under threat, in view of the serious economic implications for Cork of job losses on such a scale? I hope the Ceann Comhairle accepts my request, given the urgency of the situation.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of urgent local and national importance, namely, that RehabCare, with the support of the HSE, has withdrawn a service user allowance of €25.40 from a group of handicapped people in Monaghan town, even though RehabCare hoped the HSE would be in a position to fund it. Despite a budget in excess of €13 billion, one of the weaker groups in our society has again been the victim of mismanagement.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent national importance, namely, the questionable commitment of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to justice for vulnerable members of Irish society, in light of the near withdrawal of services by the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency. The Minister, Deputy McDowell, set the precedent of abandoning vital services when funding for the National Missing Persons Helpline was withdrawn in 2005 and is repeating his actions in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with his failure to commit to long-term funding for the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency. A full debate on the Minister's ability to deliver justice to the vulnerable must take place in light of these appalling failures.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent national importance and to allow the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement to the House on threatened job losses and the possible closure of the Motorola facility in Mahon, Cork, to state the efforts his Department and other State agencies are making to retain these jobs and the plant and to give his views on other recent job losses in County Cork and elsewhere and how such losses are likely to impact on future manufacturing industry in the country.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the imminent closure of Motorola in Cork with the consequent loss of 350 jobs.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to state if he is satisfied that there are sufficient ballot boxes for the upcoming general election, how many are currently in use, how many will have to be acquired and at what cost and how he has allowed this serious situation to develop so near to a general election.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the savage assault on a girl aged 13 by a pit bull terrier in Dublin, the inadequate enforcement of the existing provisions of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and the need to update the legislation with a view to regulating the ownership, purchase, breeding and care of dogs.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an important matter of public interest requiring the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to urgently bring forward measures to protect consumers in the telecommunications sector in light of the introduction by one cable operator of charges for customers who do not pay by direct debit, which will be particularly hard for low-income families and other vulnerable sectors, in light of ongoing complaints from citizens across the country of unsatisfactory service from a range of operators in the telecommunications sector and the failure of the Minister to introduce a communications regulations Bill until the last few weeks of this Dáil.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of major local importance, namely, to ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the rest of the Cabinet about whether they are aware of the extent of the flooding in the Neale, Cross and Kilmaine areas of County Mayo, where several families were marooned in their homes during the Christmas and new year period with devastating consequences, including some being unable to leave their homes for a long time to go to work, to bring children to and from school and to take care of elderly relatives, and where farmers are still in danger of losing their livelihoods due to the extent of the flooding; and to discuss what steps need to be taken by the Government to remedy and ease the situation, which has been pending for many years, including financial help, and what long-term steps need to be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.