I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 20 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Batt O'Keeffe — the need to ensure that District Court sittings continue to be held in Ballincollig, County Cork; (2) Deputy O'Donnell — public concern at the high number of fines and penalties being reduced by the Minister for Justice under section 23 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1951; (3) Deputy Durkan — whether the Minister for the Environment will issue guidelines to local authorities under the Housing Act, 1988, regarding the manner or method of dealing with arrears of local authority mortgages or rent, having particular regard to the recent eviction of a family by Kildare County Council during a snowstorm; (4) Deputy Doyle — the threatened slaughter of 60 in-calf heifers seized by the Donegal Sheriff; (5) Deputy Leonard — the provision of additional accommodation and facilities at Inver College, Carrickmacross, and Ard Scoil Lorgan, Castleblayney, County Monaghan; (6) Deputy McGinley — the need to extend the closing date for the submssion of ewe premium/sheep headage application forms from 28 February to a later date, as many farmers in County Donegal have so far failed to return their forms pending clarification of the requirement for a tax clearance certificate; (7) Deputy Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny)— the need to include a lift in the renovations to Carlow courthouse.
The matters raised by Deputies O'Donnell, Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny), McGinley and Leonard have been selected for discussion.