Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the discrimination against working mothers, whose skills will be lost to the labour force indefinitely due to the proposed removal of subventions for children of lower and middle income parents in community-based child care facilities, which, from January 2008, will only be available to parents on social welfare, creating a direct threat to our economy.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need for an urgent and comprehensive Government response to the ongoing murders in the State which this year so far number 58, 17 of which have been ruthless and callous gangland killings.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the proposal to decommission the coastguard stations at Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia Island; the proposed decentralisation of coastguard stations to Drogheda on the east coast and an unspecified location on the west coast; the lack of consultation that has taken place with the trade union IMPACT on these proposals and the impact they will have with the loss of 17 jobs in Valentia and similar job losses in Malin Head and Dublin.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the threat of strike action from the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, the issuing of strike notice to the ESB and the potential threat to natural energy security should the Moneypoint power plant cease to generate power as a result of industrial action; the need to find an acceptable resolution to the dispute at the Labour Relations Commission to ensure fair treatment for workers and to avert the threat of strike action.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the conspiracy of silence by the Fianna Fáil Ministers for Transport, Deputies Noel Dempsey and Martin Cullen, the Department of Transport and the Dublin Airport Authority on the withdrawal of the Shannon to Heathrow slots by Aer Lingus. In light of their incompetence, will the Government immediately move to reverse this illogical decision by Aer Lingus and grant full independent status to Shannon Airport Authority?
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.
On a point of order, will the Ceann Comhairle give some guidance on Standing Order 32? It would help if we knew exactly what matters can be raised under Standing Order 32.
Yes, instead of wasting time.
It is incredible that we are facing a possible ESB strike and gangland killings and yet we do not have an opportunity under this Standing Order to have an urgent debate on such matters. It would be in the interest of every Member if the Ceann Comhairle was kind enough to give some guidelines as to what can be allowed under the Standing Order.
Nothing can be raised under the Standing Order.
It can be discussed on the Joe Duffy show and "Morning Ireland" but not in the House.
There is no difficultly in forwarding a copy of Standing Orders to the Deputy. The Deputy will be well aware that I am here to implement Standing Orders——
It is the interpretation of the Standing Order that I am asking about.
——not to frame them.
The Deputy can go up and see the Ceann Comhairle.