Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call Deputies in the order in which they submitted notices to my office.
Requests to Move Adjournment of Dáil Under Standing Order 32
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise an issue of national importance, namely, the need for Dublin City Council to immediately take action to provide funding for Dolphin House flat complex in the south-west inner city to address the serious problems of sewerage and mildew which is causing residents to live in sub-standard conditions. We watched with disgrace the television programme addressing this issue. It is an everyday occurrence, as the Members will be aware. In St. Teresa's Gardens, Bernard Curtis House, Watling Street — I can go on — considerable health risks are caused through damp flats and mildew, and particularly sewerage seeping up through the kitchen sink.
Before I finish, I would ask the Ceann Comhairle to explain to me as a public representative, because I know at the end of this he will rule the matter out of order, what is of national importance. Is it of national importance that people have the right to live in a home, which is properly ventilated and properly maintained and for which they pay rent?
Hear, hear. Allow that, a Cheann Comhairle.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise an issue of national importance, namely, the proposed loss of a significant number of jobs at the Tullamore plant of Covidien, a medical devices company which is a critical part of the plan to create a smart economy and a focus area for potential job creation, which follows on from the closure of a number of multinational companies in the town over the last few years, and to ask the Government what plans it and IDA Ireland have to ensure that a replacement industry is located in the area, and to counteract the devastating impact this will have on the town and County Offaly.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise an issue of local and national importance, namely, the proposed closure of 50% of the beds at St. Joseph's Care Centre, Longford, which follows on the closure of Loughloe House, Athlone, County Westmeath, and is a direct attack on the elderly in the midlands and across the country.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to address the following matter of national importance, the need to call a halt to the savage cuts being imposed on services for older people, including people with dementia and Alzheimer's, who are seeing home help hours reduced, carer's allowance cut and the closure of care facilities such as Loughloe House in Athlone, the need for the Minister for Health and Children to intervene to prevent the closure of that facility and to ensure the completion of its upgrading to HIQA-approved standards.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.