Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of related notices of motion under Standing Order 31 from Deputies Howlin and Sargent. I propose to call the Deputies in the order in which they submitted notices to my office. I first call on Deputy Howlin.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 31, I wish to give notice of my intention to seek to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the latest official figures from the Central Statistics Office which show year on year inflation running at 5.2% which has effectively cancelled out the benefit of the general social welfare increase announced in the budget and this year's pay element of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; the implications of these figures for our economic development and the future of social partnership; and the need for the Minister for Finance to take urgent corrective measures.
I now call on Deputy Sargent.
On behalf of the Green Party, I wish to suspend the business of the House under Standing Order 31 to demand that the Government address the issue of urgent public importance, namely, the huge increase in inflation as revealed by the latest CSO figures; the continuing inaction by the Government to deal with the consequences of inflation; and the implications for the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Having considered the matters fully, I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 31 and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.