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 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the report of the Ombudsman for Children which has highlighted the lack of independent assessment of residential care services for children with disabilities; the fact that the Social Services Inspectorate has no responsibility for the inspection of these services; the significant increase in the number of complaints from 177 to 790 in the past year; the necessity for unimpeachable systems of inspection and accountability in these residential care centres to ensure the delivery of the highest standards of care that these children deserve; and to call on the Government to broaden the remit of the Social Services Inspectorate to include the inspection of residential units which care for children with disabilities.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the serious situation pertaining to water quality in water schemes in parts of Galway, including Tuam, Corofin and Headford; the health issues arising from the pollution of the water source; the measures being pursued to make the water fit for human consumption and, further, to allow the Ministers for Health and Children and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to outline to the House the action they propose to take to resolve the situation and the measures they propose to take to prohibit a recurrence.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the failure of the Government to combat human trafficking by reneging on its commitment to introduce legislation to incorporate into domestic law the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the reason the Government will not immediately initiate a reduction in national school class sizes, which undertaking is contained in the programme for Government but has not yet been acted upon and considering our national average class size is 24, the second highest in Europe, and that the amount of GDP now spent on education is less than when Ireland was a poorer state.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the need for the Minister for Finance to abolish, not least drastically reduce, fees for freedom of information appeals in view of the fact that since the introduction of fees, the number of requests under the FOI Act has reduced by 59% and the number of appeals to the Information Ombudsman has fallen by 44% and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the need for Galway City and County Councils to be given the necessary funds to upgrade their water treatment facilities and for the staff embargo on local authority recruitment in the Galway area to be lifted to ensure the work is carried out urgently to save further damage to the health of people and to the economy of the region, particularly tourism in an area which is depending on the Government taking urgent action on the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the fact that the Board of Works erected a second mast at Clones Garda station on a Sunday morning without consultation with any of the neighbours, even though the mast is one metre from the neighbour's boundary, 20 metres from his back door and completely destroying his property; that disabled persons, on the other hand, have to get full planning permission for a small essential extension that will not harm anybody; and that openness and transparency are the least we should expect from this public body.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.