I have received notice from Senator Denis O'Donovan that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to make a statement on the low level of cryptosporidium contamination in the water supply in the Bantry area; the steps he proposes to prevent this happening again; the stage at which the Bantry regional water scheme is at present; the amount spent on the scheme in the past seven years and when the new scheme will begin.
I have also received notice from Senator Jim Walsh of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to examine how a system to allow tenants in existing voluntary housing schemes to buy out their houses might be introduced similar to that which applies to local authority tenants in view of the fact that social housing is funded by the State and that many of the tenants of these existing schemes are seeking a transfer to local authority houses purely to be able to access the tenant purchase scheme.
I have also received notice from Senator Frances Fitzgerald of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Science to provide an update on his position on Educate Together's request to be recognised as a patronage body for second level schools.
I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health and Children to clarify that the home support service will be protected, given the importance of the service to the disabled and the elderly in County Donegal.
I have also received notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Science to clarify if Coláiste na Coiribe, Galway city, will be included in the next PPP bundle and when this is likely to take place in order that the school may proceed to meet the large pupil enrolment on waiting lists for accommodation.
I have also received notice from Senator Pearse Doherty of the following matter:
An gá leis an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, i bhfianaise na gciorruithe 58% nó €50 milliún atá molta ag an bord snip nua don Ghaeltacht agus do na hoileáin, dearbhú a thabhairt do phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge go mbeidh an Rialtas ag seasamh leis na cúig phrionsabal i leith na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta.
I have also received notice from Senator Rónán Mullen of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify whether, in the light of the Lisbon treaty "guarantees" on the right to life, the family and education or otherwise, the European Commission would have any competence to challenge legislation in Ireland, should such ever be proposed, along the lines of the Lithuanian law on the protection of minors against the detrimental effect of public information, which legislation has led to Lithuania being censured by the European Parliament, and to clarify whether, in the event that the European Commission sought to challenge a member state on such a law, the Irish Government would oppose such interference.
I have also received notice from Senator Eugene Regan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to clarify whether a fault has been discovered in the lion intoxilyser and a notification issued from the Chief Prosecution Solicitor to persons convicted in Dún Laoghaire District Court of an offence under section 13(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1994 concerning a failure to provide breath specimens that they may appeal their convictions and that if they choose to do so, the State will not oppose such appeals and, in particular, if he will clarify the nature of the fault and the effect of this fault in Dún Laoghaire and other parts of the country in terms of the number of convictions which may be affected and how long this fault has been known to him and the authorities.
I have also received notice from Senator Cecilia Keaveney of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Defence to give an appraisal on whether the bomb disposal unit should be returned to Finner, given the recent heightened security threats generally in Ulster.
I have also received notice from Senator Nicky McFadden of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health and Children to revise the plan of the HSE to replace local services with a centralised application system for medical cards.
I have also received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline her plans for a rehabilitation hospital in Cork as this new facility is required as a matter of urgency.
I have also received notice from Senator Michael McCarthy of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to provide enough resources to allow Cork County Council to deal with the toxic sea lettuce growing on the west Cork coastline.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators O'Donovan, Walsh, Fitzgerald, Ó Domhnaill, Healy Eames, Doherty, Mullen, Regan, Keaveney, McFadden and Buttimer as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment. I have selected the matters raised by Senators O'Donovan, Walsh and Fitzgerald and they will be taken at the conclusion of business. I regret I have had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator McCarthy as the Minister has no official responsibility in the matter which is one for Cork County Council. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.
