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 discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the urgent need for the Government to respond immediately to the flooding crisis and to the devastation caused to people in so many cities, towns such as Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen, villages and rural areas and to ensure that immediate relief measures and adequate emergency funding is made available to those seriously affected. If anything qualifies to have the House adjourned under Standing Order 32, surely it is this matter.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the hardship caused to families, businesses and people involved in agriculture as a result of recent flooding and the need to provide humanitarian and other assistance to people in affected areas throughout the country.
There is no co-ordination on the Fine Gael Front Bench.
There is no sign of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, on the Government benches.
He has gone to Ardnacrusha.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the measures being taken to deal with the consequences of the flooding experienced in a number of parts of the country during the past week, the assistance that will be provided to those whose homes or businesses have been destroyed, if it is intended to apply for moneys from the EU Solidarity Fund in order to assist with meeting the cost of the crisis and the steps that are being taken to establish the causes of the flooding and to ensure that adequate preventative measures will be put in place for the future.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the measures being taken by the Government to deal with the consequences of the disastrous flooding in Cork city in recent days, which has led to some 18,000 homes being without water supplies, the steps being taken to ensure the urgent restoration of those supplies, particularly in the context of health and hygiene, the steps that are being taken to establish the causes of the severe flooding in Cork and to ensure that adequate preventative measures will be put in place for the future.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in accordance with Standing Order 32.
(Interruptions).
We will move on. Deputy Hogan should resume his seat.
It is on Private Members' business as well.
On a point of order——
Members will have ample opportunity to ventilate these issues later. We are moving on.
We may as well not be here at all.
What about Private Members' business?
What constitutes approval for a Standing Order 32 request?
On a point of order, could the Ceann Comhairle read out the criteria in order that we can all understand the rationale?
Standing Order 32 should be abolished.
The Deputy should call to my office tomorrow and we will discuss it.
Could the Ceann Comhairle please read out the criteria for allowing a Standing Order 32 request?
How dare the Ceann Comhairle——
I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat. I am calling the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.
On a point of order——
On a point of order——
We are moving on with the business of the House.
The Ceann Comhairle should read the Standing Orders.
Will the Ceann Comhairle please deal with my point of order?
I am——
I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat. We have agreed the schedule for the rest of the day.
We do not care what we do until the Ceann Comhairle gets a little sense. Does he not know there are 700 people in Ballinsloe who cannot get in or out of their houses?
I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat.
On a point of order, does the Ceann Comhairle agree that on an occasion such as this when flooding is prevalent throughout the country, it is important to utilise this Standing Order now for the House to be relevant?
The Deputy will have ample opportunity to make those points later. I call the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.
What the Ceann Comhairle is at is outrageous.
We are moving on with the business of the House.
Why do the Deputies not go down with the galvanised buckets?
Can I raise a point of order?
I ask Deputy O'Keeffe to resume his seat.
How much of the country has to be under water before the Ceann Comhairle grants a Standing Order 32 request?
It shows how little they care about the people who are affected.
I made a request under Standing Order 32. By coincidence, I happen to be 32 years in the House. I have not made such a request of the Ceann Comhairle or his predecessors before, except on a matter relating to Northern Ireland. If the Ceann Comhairle finds that his hands are tied, could I redirect the issue to the Taoiseach? The Taoiseach is entitled to say to the House that the Government accepts the gravity of the situation and the concern of all Members
The Deputy is not allowed to make a long Second Stage speech as a point of order.
Does the Ceann Comhairle accept the Taoiseach is able to agree to have this motion taken this evening?
A motion will be taken in the House at 7 p.m.
We will discuss the issue between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. I will have to suspend the House if Deputies are not prepared to co-operate. I ask Deputies Connaughton and McCormack to resume their seat.
We are not relevant.
I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat.
On a point of order, the Ceann Comhairle has taken points of order from two Fine Gael Members. I request the same measure of respect be extended to the Labour Party by him.
I thought Fine Gael and the Labour Party were all the one. Are there divisions already?
Yesterday before 10 a.m. I sent a request to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle seeking a Private Notice Question on this issue.
The Deputy was up early.
I understand operational restrictions are in place in the House and perhaps the Private Notice Question could not have been taken this afternoon. However, several requests have been made for Private Notice Questions and under Standing Order 32. There is an emergency.
What about Private Members' business?
It is a national emergency.
I am fully aware of that. A debate will commence at 7 p.m. I ask Deputy Lynch to resume his seat.
We did not see too many Opposition Deputies out with sandbags at the weekend.
On a point of order——
We will have ample opportunity to discuss this between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and all the points that need to be made can be made. Deputy Ciarán Lynch should resume his seat.
The Ceann Comhairle has totally different operational procedures——
Does the Deputy think the people who are in trouble are bothered by operational procedures? The Deputy is being shown up for what he is.
There are totally different operational measures in place for a Private Members' debate than for a Private Notice Question.
I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.