Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call on the Deputies in the order in which the notices were submitted.
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 to restore bridge funding to the Jack and Jill Foundation. I call on the Government and the Minister for Health and Children to end these cuts that affect children with serious illnesses, to provide a well thought out plan to support all sick children and all children with a disability and to end cuts to front line services.
Under Standing Order 32, I seek to adjourn the House to discuss the apparent contradiction between the Taoiseach's statement on Tuesday that the Government has no intention of selling Coillte and replies from the Ministers for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Finance that no decision has yet been made and that the decision will be informed by the McCarthy report on State assets. I call for a full debate on the recommendations of that report prior to their being acted upon in relation to the sale of Coillte in whole or in part, or any other State assets.
Ba mhaith liom an Dáil a chur ar athló chun déileáil leis an ghné ri-thábhachtach seo, the urgent need for Government action to support the 2,500 households that had their gas and electricity disconnected in the first two months of the year, the 150,000 ESB customers experiencing debt difficulties and the 11,000 Bord Gáis households currently at risk of disconnection. The State's response to this fuel poverty crisis, including that of the Energy Regulator, must put the needs of households first. A prepaid meter facility should be made available to all those who request it at no additional charge. A wider State response is required. Otherwise, families will go without essential household fuels.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.