Vol. 540 No. 1
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 now call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
In regard to the first topic, I have received notice from Deputies Jim Higgins and Tom Enright. I call on Deputy Higgins to state the matter.
(Mayo): I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31, to debate the following matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, the decision by the Government to block the £1.35 billion acquisition by the Electricity Supply Board of eight electricity supply companies in the Gdansk region of Poland, which have a combined annual revenue of £764 billion and 2.5 million customers; the damage to the international reputation of Ireland and the ESB and the waste of £10 million spent by the ESB in the preparation of its bid and plan.
I wish to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order 31 to discuss as a matter of urgent public importance the Government decision to prevent the Electricity Supply Board from purchasing eight electricity companies in Poland, which purchase would have provided strategic opportunities in line with the ESB's international expansion policy and would have enhanced the ESB's international reputation.
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 motion.
In regard to the second topic, I have received notice from Deputy Trevor Sargent and I now call on Deputy Sargent to state the matter.
Under Standing Order 31, I wish to raise the following matter of public importance; that Dáil Éireann be suspended in order to address the ongoing health problems of humans and animals in the Askeaton area of County Limerick and the scandalous mishandling of the issues surrounding the deteriorating health and environment in the area, including the inexplicable loss of blood and tissue samples supplied to the Mid-Western Health Board, and to address the delay by several years of the inter-agency report being drawn up by the EPA, the latest date of publication being given as last month, and the need now for a full disclosure of the facts and publication of the inter-agency investigations as a matter of urgency.
Having considered the matter fully, I do not consider it to be contemplated by Standing Order 31, and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.
