I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to me under Standing Order 20 (3) (a) and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Dermot Ahern and Deputy McGahon — the problems being created by the closure of a ward in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; Deputy Creed — the serious threat to employment and the rural environment as a result of the Minister's decision to suspend the scheme for the control of farmyard pollution; Deputy Gilmore — the request by 40 students at the College of Marketing and Design that the Minister for Education investigate the refusal to grant degree status to their course; Deputy Moynihan — the injustice created by the assessment of school grants to third level college students, as income, in relation to the investigation of such students for unemployment assistance, during college holiday periods; Deputy Fennell — the reason two students (details supplied) are unable to obtain multi-entry visas and if the Minister for Justice will make a statement on the matter; Deputy Garland — the continued failure by the Government to ratify the Convention on the Exchange of Prisoners with the consequent hardship on Irish prisoners, and their families; Deputy Kenny — the urgent necessity for the Minister for Health to authorise Phase II of Castlebar General Hospital, County Mayo; Deputy Deenihan — the refusal by the Minister for Education to grant recognition to Baile an Locaigh portion of Coláiste Pheig Sayers, Ballyferriter, County Kerry. I have selected for discussion the matters raised by Deputies Dermot Ahern and McGahon, Kenny and Moynihan.
