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 raise a matter of national importance, namely, the urgent need for a clear jobs strategy to assist the unemployed; to strongly support the proposal to create 20,000 jobs by urging people to spend an extra €20 per week on Irish goods, services and local businesses; to call on all Members of the Oireachtas and the Government to support SIPTU, OPEN, the INOU and Mental Health Ireland in protecting the 20,000 jobs on community employment schemes which provide important services to the community; and to call on the Government to make job creation the number one issue in this Dáil term.
Since Deputy Sherlock is not present, I call on Deputy Connaughton.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the total confusion caused by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to thousands of farmers concerning the payment of their area based payment and the subsequent payment of the single farm payment when this week and last thousands of senseless letters were sent by the Department accusing farmers of having made dual claims, over-claims and other erroneous allegations which when contested by the farmers involved were found in the vast majority of cases to be groundless but which are causing a delay in payments; and to ask the Minister to make a statement to the effect that where these allegations were made without foundation the payments will issue immediately.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise an issue of national importance, namely, the cuts to home help services throughout the State which are having a devastating impact on elderly people who need help in their own home so they can continue to live independently. Services in my own area of Inchicore, Ballyfermot and Bluebell have been cut back dramatically. This cannot continue. The Minister for Health and Children must act immediately to allocate badly needed funding to this service. More than 200 people in my area are on waiting lists. Yesterday the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Fachtna Murphy, launched the Garda Síochána's older people strategy.
We do not provide for elaboration.
I want to make this point because it is very important.
The Deputy cannot do that. Will she co-operate with the Chair?
The strategy document states: "An Garda Síochána acknowledges and appreciates the significant contribution given by older people to their communities through voluntary and other activity." It is time the Government took on board what is being said by the Garda Síochána.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Having considered the matters raised they are not in order under Standing Order 32.
They should be.