Deputy Spring gave me notice this morning that he wished to raise a matter under Standing Order 30. The Deputy should now state the matter.
Request under Standing Order 30.
The terms of the motion I sent to the Ceann Comhairle are as follows:
In view of the growing crisis in the health services with emergency meetings taking place in a number of health board areas, with waiting lists for even very routine procedures and with more and more public beds being privatised, Dáil Éireann resolves to establish an all-party committee to examine the health services. The terms of reference of such a committee would include the setting out of principles to be applied to the development of a modern and efficient health service capable of delivering rapid and sustained care at the point of need to every citizen irrespective of means, examine the funding, arrangements of the best possible health care system and examine the reductions in services that are taking place at present with a view to proposing alternative methods of ensuring adequate health care.
If the House is to reflect the crisis in the health services we should suspend normal business and discuss this as a matter of urgency. There are times when the House is accused of not being in touch with reality and there is hardly a family in the country that is not affected by the mismanagement and the crisis in the health services. On that basis I am asking for leave to suspend the business of the House.
Having considered the matter fully I do not consider it is one contemplated by Standing Order 30 and I cannot, therefore, grant leave to move the motion.
I would not attempt to dispute the ruling of the Chair but I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he would consider making Government time available at the earliest date to give the House an opportunity of discussing the crisis in the health services which is getting worse.
I have no notice of this proposal.