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 about turn taken by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she closed down the farm improvement scheme, FIS. Given that the Government gave an absolute assurance to farmers before the general election that all farmers would be given an opportunity to make application for the 40% grant aid and given that most of the specifications of the scheme were geared towards the enhancement of the environment, it is difficult to understand why the Government did not accept all applications and prepare a phased system of approvals and subsequent payments over a period of years which would be fair and would treat all farmers equally and with respect.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance namely, the crisis in cancer care throughout the country which has been highlighted by an international study by the OECD published this week which shows that Ireland has one of the highest breast cancer death rates in the developed world and a 6% higher rate of deaths from prostate cancer than the OECD average, proof positive that we are at grave risk under the current health regime.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance namely, the fact that the Government has not channelled resources into tackling gun crime in an effective manner. This is evidenced by a man shot dead at his home in Tallaght yesterday, gardaí held at gunpoint last Friday and again last night by armed robbers in a hotel in Athy and research presented to the Psychology Society of Ireland today which finds a significant number of secondary school students have easy access to illegal weapons. There is an urgent need for the Government to re-channel resources in a much more effective way along the lines recommended by both Sinn Féin in its submission to the Policing Plan 2008 and by the Garda Inspectorate in its most recent report.
Having considered the three matters raised, I am afraid they are not in order under Standing Order 32.