I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to the Ceann Comhairle under Standing Order 20 (3) (a) and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy J. O'Keeffe — the proposals to reduce the workforce in the Molnlycke factory in Dunmanway, County Cork, by 126 and the devastating effect this will have on the town and area and what plans the Minister for Industry and Commerce has for the area by way of response to the situation; Deputy Deenihan — the urgent need for the Government to provide funding to the Irish Hockey Union to develop a playing pitch for the Hockey World Cup in 1994; Deputy Flaherty — the tragic death of a young boy at the weekend and the need for extra gardaí in the Finglas area and for legislation to give the gardaí extra power to deal with loitering and open air drinking; Deputy Allen — if the Minister for Justice will ensure that the Mallow Road Garda Station in Cork is not downgraded and if he will ensure that gardaí currently serving there will continue to operate from that station and will not be asked to report to Watercourse Road Garda Station for duty; and if he will increase Garda numbers in Cork city; Deputy Sheehan — the serious situation in Dun-manway, County Cork, where Molnlycke Ltd. have laid off 126 of their workforce; and the steps the Minister for Industry and Commerce intends to take in this regard; Deputy Lowry — the manner in which the Leader programme is being administered in County Tipperary; Deputy Moynihan — the level of consternation that exists among a number of sheep farmers in severely handicapped areas and also handicapped areas, arising from the exclusion of lands other than mountain grazing for calculating the ewe headage payments, resulting in a very severe reduction in the income of such farmers; Deputy Flanagan — the action the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications proposes to take on the former European College of Aeronautics based in Cork and now in liquidation and closed and the steps she proposes to take to alleviate the hardship and severe loss thrust upon the students who are unable to complete their course; Deputy Kenny — the much-needed extension to Castle-bar General Hospital; Deputy Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny)— the ongoing delay in giving the go-ahead to Muine Bheag sewerage scheme, County Carlow; Deputy Connaughton — the fact that commuters having purchased return tickers from the west of Ireland using Iarnrod Éireann are now being debarred from using the services of Bus Éireann on the return journey from Dublin to Galway, despite the fact that commuters from Dublin to Dundalk are allowed this concession; and Deputy Brady — the serious allegations made against persons (details supplied), particularly the “Special Activities” referred to, which could have had a detrimental effect on the security of the State.
The Ceann Comhairle has selected for discussion the matters raised by Deputies J. O'Keeffe, Lowry and Moynihan.