Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of urgent national and regional importance, namely, the need for a national response from the HSE and the Department of Health and Children to the radiology crisis in the north east and for all available resources to be deployed to significantly shorten the current maximum waiting period of eight weeks for reading 6,000 X-rays and informing patients, in view of the significant anxiety and sleepless nights experienced by patients and their families and to restore public confidence in the health system.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of urgent national and regional importance, namely, the need for the Taoiseach and the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Finance and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to address the collapse this week of five urban regeneration projects in Dublin city after the withdrawal of McNamara Construction from its contract with Dublin City Council; to acknowledge the failure of public private partnerships to deliver urban regeneration in Dublin city; to revaluate all future regeneration projects in light of the experience of the communities of St. Michael's Estate, O'Devaney Gardens, Seán McDermott Street, Dominic Street and Infirmary Road; and to give a commitment to underwrite the five projects to renew confidence in the affected communities, stimulate the construction industry in the city and deliver the promised social and affordable housing to areas of disadvantage which gained nothing from the Celtic tiger.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of urgent national and regional importance, namely, yesterday's announcement by Dublin City Council that five social housing projects, including the regeneration of St. Michael's Estate in Inchicore, are at serious risk due to the withdrawal of a developer from a public private partnership. This is a huge blow to the residents of St. Michael's Estate and the wider community of Inchicore. The Government must act immediately to ensure this and other affected projects do not go to the wall.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of urgent national and regional importance, namely, the threat to Ireland's habitats and species, given that only 7% of habitats examined in a study published this week on the status of EU protected habitats and species in Ireland were found to be in good condition, whereas 46% were described as inadequate and 47% as bad; and the knock-on threat of remedial action to the livelihoods of turf cutters, particularly in the midlands, the economic welfare of whom must be weighed against the rapid disappearance of raised bogs, which have decreased by 35% in the past ten years because of the Government's failure to adequately preserve traditional turf cutting methods.
Hear, hear.
Keep the home fires burning.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to address the following matter of national importance requiring urgent consideration: the need for the Minister for Health and Children to ensure that complete and comprehensive information is provided, including by way of a public inquiry if necessary, on the systems failures that have led to the situation where the HSE north east has issued letters to almost 4,600 patients advising them that chest X-rays and CT scans are being reviewed, the misdiagnoses that may have led to deaths in some cases, the delay in acting on this matter after it first came to the notice of the HSE and the failure of successive Ministers, the Department and the HSE to ensure the delivery of the best care for all patients at all locations where cancer services are provided.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance, namely, yesterday's announcement by Dublin City Council of the collapse of plans to regenerate five areas of Dublin city and to build thousands of housing units by way of public private partnership with a leading private developer, and to ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to indicate the Government's response to this news and to outline its plans to communities that have been waiting for so long for local regeneration projects.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance, namely, the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to ensure that the five planned projects for the regeneration of the inner city of Dublin proceed as a matter of extreme urgency. It is widely reported in the media today that a major construction company is no longer willing to proceed with these projects. I ask that the Taoiseach and the Minister intervene in order to resolve this matter in the interests of the thousands of people who are on housing waiting lists.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance, namely, the unacceptable situation whereby school secretaries and caretakers are receiving disparate rates of pay — some would say they are desperate rates of pay; the fact that these workers, if they are not covered by the Department of Education and Science's 78-79 scheme, are, in many cases, paid below the minimum wage and also the anomaly that has developed, which makes voluntary school boards the employers of these workers under the 1990 PESP scheme and which sees Department funds allocated for the procurement of such staff used for much needed school equipment as a result of funding shortages; and the need for the Department of Education and Science to meet, as a matter of urgency, with IMPACT and SIPTU to discuss the problems faced by the workers to whom I refer and to provide a solution, once and for all.
Tar éis breithnithe a dhéanamh ar na nithe ardaithe, níl sé in ord faoi Bhuan-Ordú 32. Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.