Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices 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 an urgent matter of national importance, namely, the serious situation regarding the delays in farm payments where, in spite of every effort by farm families to have their documentation rectified and updated, major backlogs are being admitted and subsequently a sizeable number of farmers do not know when they will get paid. Pig farmers are once again the victims of increased feed prices at €36 per tonne, and decreased product prices of between 8 cent and 10 cent per kg, and they have problems with credit to run their business. Although we had good weather conditions, it does not follow that a rising tide lifts all boats and it is extremely urgent that the current difficulties are dealt with.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the fact that 80 fishing vessels are currently tied up as a result of the Government's refusal to issue fishing licences. This is mainly due to a shortage of marine survey officers, which meant that over one third of the Irish fishing fleet over 15 m in length was unable to complete the survey in order to comply with health and safety regulations. Some were also unable to secure bank loans to assist with the survey and now have no income, with each boat having approximately four crew members who are now on the live register with owners unable to secure job seeker's allowance. The result is that communities are suffering job losses and this is adding hardship to an already depressed sector. There is a need for the Minister to explain why other EU states have adopted a different approach to their fishing industries.
Ba mhaith liom cead a iarradh an Dáil a chur ar athló chun déileáil leis an gnó rí-thábhachtach seo faoi riar Ordú 32: in recognition of the extreme difficulties faced by taxi drivers and their families and in particular the concerning and disproportionately high incidence of suicide amongst this group, the urgent need for the Government and, in particular the Minister for Transport, to meet taxi representatives to initiate steps with a timeframe to save up to 10,000 jobs in the industry that are currently in jeopardy and to commence a scheme whereby the taxi regulator would buy back plates in order to reduce the number of taxis to a sustainable level in an organised and supportive manner as failure to do so will inevitably result in much greater job losses and impoverishment.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.