Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31 dealing with two different topics. I propose to deal with these topics separately and I will call the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call Deputy Jim Higgins on the first topic.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
(Mayo): I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter, namely, the inaccurate information put on the Dáil record on Tuesday last, 20 February 2001, by the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise, Deputy Jacob, in an Adjournment Debate when he stated that a rail incident in Kiltoom, County Roscommon, had been the subject of a formal inquiry when such was not the case; that the driver of the train involved in the incident had been retrained when such was not the case; and the need to correct the record of the House and to put on record the factual situation.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter, namely, the factually incorrect information put on the record of the Dáil on Tuesday last by the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, regarding a train incident at Kiltoom, County Roscommon, on 22 December 2000.
Having considered the matter fully, I do not consider it to be contemplated by Standing Order 31. Therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.
Is it planned that the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, will make a personal statement later?
I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, has been given permission to make a personal statement under Standing Order 43.
Thank you.
On the second topic, I received notice from Deputies Shortall and Fitzgerald. I now call on Deputy Shortall.
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, the need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline the steps it is intended to take arising from the report of the social services inspectorate into the running of Newtown House, to state what new procedures will be put in place to ensure such unacceptable practices do not occur in the future and what steps are being taken to ensure all staff working in residential child care centres receive adequate training.
I now call on Deputy Fitzgerald.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following urgent and important matter, namely, the report of the Irish social services inspectorate on Newtown House high support unit, with its disturbing revelations about the care of residents there and its findings that in a number of areas the unit had failed to meet the standards required for residential care centres and that there were cases where physical restraint was used inappropriately.
Having considered the matter fully, I do not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 31 and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motions.