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 haphazard development of the family law system which has led to overcrowded lists, lengthy adjournments and sittings late into the night, particularly in country areas, with justice being delivered from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., to the detriment of families and the welfare of children.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, retrospective payments of State pensions to persons such as old age pensioners, widowers and other such categories of people who, for a variety of reasons, did not make an application for their pension until after their relevant birthday, at which point eligibility had passed, and were subsequently denied retrospective payment despite the fact that they would have been entitled to their pensions had they applied on time and in view of the fact that legislation was introduced in the Dáil last week to allow such retrospective payment be made to a former Government Minister; and if the new law applies equally to all citizens in similar circumstances.
Fine Gael got the same after 1973. There was not a word about that.
The Deputy is hurt.
(Interruptions).
The ball has not been thrown in yet.
In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 32, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the need for the Taoiseach and Government to outline the urgent action they propose to take to minimise potential job losses at Waterford Crystal, bearing in mind the devastating effect the indicated level of job losses would have on the workers, their families and the Waterford economy. In view of the importance of this issue, I hope the Ceann Comhairle will agree to my request.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to address the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the announcement that 470 jobs are to be lost at Waterford Crystal; the necessity for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline what steps were taken by his Department and other relevant Government agencies to avert these job losses; and the necessity for the Minister to make a statement to the House outlining in detail what is being done by the Government to ensure the creation of new jobs in regional towns which have been left devastated as major manufacturing employers have closed down in recent months.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.