Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I propose to deal with these topics separately and 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 need to urgently address the growing concern of parents, medics and gardaí over the sale of legal high drugs and the need to outlaw the sale of these products through head shops.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the urgent need to support the residents of Killester, Artane, Cromcastle, Whitethorn, Coolock, Clontarf and Griffith Avenue with their significant water problems; and to call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to support and work with Dublin City Council in resolving this crisis.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the current appalling condition of roads in County Cork; and to ask the Minister for Transport to increase funding for the maintenance of county and non-national roads in that county, and to examine why the road network in County Cork is severely under-funded and why funding for roadways in Cork is considerably lower per kilometre compared to most other counties in the State.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need for the Minister for Health and Children to reject the draft HSE plan for 2010 with its proposals for the closure of a further 1,100 acute hospital beds and the cutting of hospital admissions by some tens of thousands, all in the context of ongoing health cutbacks; an increase in the number of patients on trolleys in accident and emergency departments, 426 yesterday compared to 313 at the same time last year; overcrowding leading to the spread of hospital infections such as the recent C. difficile outbreak in the north east; and the continuing downgrading of hospitals, the latest being the decision to close the 40-bed psychiatric unit in South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need for the Government to explain how our national, regional and local roads will be repaired following the recent atrocious weather conditions and damage done to the transport infrastructure and the economy as a result.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the fact that one in five members of the Judiciary has failed to make a contribution towards the pension levy. I first raised the matter of the inequality arising from the exemption of the Judiciary from this levy almost one year ago on 17 February 2009, but the matter has not been resolved. In common with other higher civil servants, the Judiciary is being let off the hook.
Guilty.
I wish to raise the following matter of urgent public importance, namely, the threatened air traffic controller strike, which would be significantly damaging to the already ailing tourism industry and to Ireland's reputation as a country open for business, and the need to avert this protest before it causes further disruption in international travel plans.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Under Standing Order 32, I wish to raise the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to outline to the House how people can be assured that they will get the necessary remedies to alleviate and deal with matters relating to road, water and other infrastructure arising from the recent severe weather.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.