Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of topics dealing with two different issues. I propose to deal with these two topics separately and I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to the office. In regard to the first topic, I have received notice from Deputies Howlin and Sargent. I call first on Deputy Howlin.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 31, I seek to move the adjournment of the Dáil now to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention: the need for the Taoiseach to make an urgent statement to the Dáil setting out the steps he intends to take arising from the failure of the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, to disclose that he stood to benefit from the defeat of the Labour Party Private Members' motion in the Dáil last Wednesday seeking a total ban on the feeding of meat and bone meal to any animals prior to speaking on the motion and voting twice against it, especially having regard to the obligations placed on office holders by the Ethics in Public Office Act and the principles set out clearly in the Government's own Cabinet handbook.
I request the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to allow the Government and, in particular, the Minister of State, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, to hear the reasons he should resign his position in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, following the revelations that he has ignored his Department and his advice that animal derived products should not be fed to farm animals, including pigs, and that the Government accepts this resignation as an initial step towards putting right the mistakes of the past which have damaged consumer confidence in meat products.
Having considered the matter fully, the Ceann Comhairle does not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and, therefore, leave cannot be granted to move the motion.
We now move to a second topic submitted by Deputies Shortall and Joe Higgins.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the continuing dispute involving members of the ASTI which has resulted in most secondary students, including those facing examinations, losing eight days of classes so far; the need for the Minister for Education and Science to report to the House on his discussions with the ASTI; and the need for intensified efforts to find a solution to the dispute having regard to the consequences for the education system of an escalation of the dispute and the action by the ASTI.
(Dublin West): I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following issue of urgent public importance, namely, the failure of the Government to resolve the teachers' dispute, thereby causing ongoing hardship for teachers and inconvenience for tens of thousands of students who are obliged to miss their classes. The Dáil must urgently discuss this matter and ensure a favourable outcome to this strike.
Having considered the matter fully, the Ceann Comhairle does not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and, therefore, leave cannot be granted to move the motions.