Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call the Deputies in the order their requests were submitted to the Ceann Comhairle's office.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 on a matter of extreme importance, namely, the plans to press ahead with the ending of 24-hour accident and emergency services in Ennis General Hospital. There is chaos at Limerick Regional Hospital this week where there is a large number of patients on trolleys, 28 on Monday morning, 17 on Tuesday and 21 yesterday. Limerick Regional Hospital will not be able to cope with the extra patients from Ennis and Nenagh. Talks have collapsed between the unions and the Health Service Executive. There is no agreement with GPs and we have no details of what additional resources will be made available to the ambulance service.
The Minister for Health and Children gave a commitment that 24-hour accident and emergency services would not be removed from Ennis if the resources were not in place. As the resources are not in place the Minister must immediately re-examine the decision to close 24-hour accident and emergency services in Ennis from Monday next.
I request the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an urgent and specific matter of public interest, namely, concern by carers groups that their limited entitlements would be targeted in the forthcoming budget. Carers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There are approximately 150,000 carers across the country playing a vital role in community health care and it is estimated that in providing those services carers are saving the Exchequer in the region of €2 billion annually. They are performing a considerable service to their families, the community and to the country and it would be foolhardy in the extreme to tinker with their payments. I therefore request an urgent debate to discuss this serious matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the need for the Minister for Health and Children to ensure that carers who look after a relative in the home and the people they care for are not adversely affected by the proposed cutbacks in the health service.
Having considered the matters raised, I am afraid they are not in order under Standing Order 32.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle——
We now move——
You forgot Deputy Bannon.
I am afraid I do not have a notice from Deputy Bannon.
The Leas-Cheann Comhairle should take it for granted that he will have a matter to raise.
I know that the Deputy has a very efficient office but I regret that his notice did not arrive. I now call on the Tánaiste to announce the Order of Business.
That is unfair treatment.