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 raise a matter of national importance, namely, the closure of the post office on Park Road in Killarney, County Kerry, one of the busiest post offices in the south west. The closure of this large, vibrant post office, because of a lack of Government funding, is inconveniencing 4,700 people. I call on the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to intervene and prevent this closure. I also call on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, who is a local man, to wake up to the situation. There will be nobody welcoming him on the Park Road in Killarney this morning.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Will the Ceann Comhairle accept this issue under Standing Order 31?
It surely constitutes grounds for the adjournment of the Dáil.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of major national and local importance, namely, the question of how the Government can justify the policing operation at the Corrib gas refinery project in Ballinaboy, County Mayo, which cost the taxpayer €3.14 million from 3 October 2006 to 25 January 2007. Shell, meanwhile, is today expected to announce record profits of just less than €1.5 million an hour. The Government is facilitating the exploitation of our natural resources for which we are receiving no recompense.
It is not appropriate to go beyond the notice submitted to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle.
The Government is bending over backwards to assist Shell in its exploitation of our natural resources while patients cannot access hospital beds.
Hear, hear.
The Government should be ashamed of itself.
We are trying to ensure people can go to work in safety.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to enable the Minister for Education and Science to make a statement on the severe difficulties experienced by students nationwide in registering for third level education with the Central Applications Office. I call on the CAO to extend its applications deadline by one week to facilitate students who have had difficulties registering on-line due to capacity limitations in its computer system and to ease the great stress on students, teachers and families.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter requiring urgent attention, namely, the need for the Minister for Education and Science to identify immediately a site for a new school for Gaelscoil Chluain Meala and to initiate the planning and design process without delay to allow for an early commencement of construction. Gaelscoil Chluain Meala has been located in substandard accommodation for the past 13 years and there are serious health and safety risks for pupils and staff, all of whom are frustrated by the inaction of the Minister and her Department.
Hear, hear.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the urgent need for the Government to recognise and respond to the devastating effect of the illicit drug trade on local communities by mobilising all the resources of the State to tackle the growing supply of illicit drugs across Dublin. This increasing availability is evidenced by recent welcome seizures, including that of ecstasy valued at €1.8 million in Clondalkin last night, the large seizures of heroin and cocaine in Ballyfermot and the cannabis resin haul in Loughlinstown last month. The Government must adequately fund and resource drug treatment services to deal with multiple drug use.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate an urgent matter of local and national importance, namely, the failure of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide long-term funding for the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency, NDVIA, and, in turn, relieve the pressure on local groups providing services for victims of domestic violence, including those in counties Cavan and Monaghan. Does the Minister accept that domestic violence is one of the most difficult issues facing women and families and that it can also affect men? It is not confined to one class or age group and cannot be ignored.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the lack of services for children with autism in the Kerry area and the failure of the Government to provide the necessary resources to ensure that children who are diagnosed with this condition are provided with the necessary facilities, teaching assistance and home tuition to ensure they are given the best opportunity to develop.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the latest attempt by Commissioner Mandelson to sacrifice Irish and European agriculture in an attempt to reach WTO agreement. The Commissioner admitted he is prepared to show further flexibility in negotiations, which means he will seek advantage for exports of industrial goods while opening up the floodgates for food imports that are not compliant with EU standards into the EU and Ireland.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, if the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will respond urgently to the memorandum submitted by the Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee almost two and a half months ago requesting the urgent establishment of a new commission of inquiry into the Stardust disaster in which 48 young people tragically lost their lives and in the light of the now almost 26 year struggle of the Stardust Relatives and Victims Committee for justice and closure.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national and local importance, namely, the need for the restrictive practices employed by the Department of Transport to be eased in light of the fact that Dublin Bus has been forced to postpone the use of 15 new buses purchased to serve the towns of Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock. These buses cannot be used until a licence granted to a private operator serving new routes along the Lucan corridor has been taken up despite the fact that funding was given to Dublin Bus for these buses long before granting the private licence. Micro-management has now become a new impediment to commuters who urgently need expanded bus services. The practices of the Department of Transport must be changed to fix this position.
Having considered the matters, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.