Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of requests to move the adjournment of the Dáil 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 raise a matter of national importance, namely, the failure of the Coca-Cola company to honour a Labour Court judgment concerning redundancy payments to its laid-off workers at Tuam, Dublin and Cork; the obvious sneaking disregard of Coca-Cola for its former employees who worked diligently over many years; the total disregard of the company for the Labour Court; and the fact that other former employees of Coca-Cola recently received much higher levels of redundancy payments than those being offered to the striking workers in Tuam and elsewhere.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the disturbing level of errors in the marking of the leaving certificate, as demonstrated by the awarding of upgrades in 20% of all appeals; and the fact that the results of those appeals have come too late for many people, unfortunately, as the college courses they are entitled to take are often full by the time appeal results are issued.
Hear, hear.
At a time when students and schools are crying out for funding, it is disgraceful that there is a very substantial underspend in the Department of Education and Science.
Hear, hear.
This matter needs to be debated as a matter of urgency.
Where is the Minister for Education and Science?
Deputy Kathleen Lynch, without interruption.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an urgent matter of public interest, namely, the industrial dispute at Coca-Cola, which is in danger of spreading to other companies; the fact that Coca-Cola workers have been on strike for the past seven weeks as a result of the company's attempts to outsource distribution, which would lead to the loss of 130 jobs, 30 of which would be lost in Cork; the intransigence of Coca-Cola in ignoring all attempts by the workforce to seek a resolution through the Labour Court, which is leading to the escalation of the dispute to other distribution companies; and the need for an urgent debate on this serious matter.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32, unfortunately.