Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will call, first, on Deputy Crawford.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter: the urgent need for the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to ensure that at least the recommendations of the Bonner report, which he instigated this week 12 months ago, be implemented in Monaghan General Hospital. It is vital that patients rather than personalities are put first and I urge the Minister to show who is in charge.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent national importance and concern, namely, the adoption by a previously owned semi-State financial institution of the practice whereby it will not accept lodgements under €1,000. In addition, it will not permit withdrawals of less than €1,000, despite the fact that it provides neither ATM nor cheque guarantee card facilities. Nor is any allowance made for the security considerations of customers having to amass €1,000 prior to lodgement and safeguard it on withdrawal. I call for the prohibition of such practice by Irish financial institutions.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major national and local importance, namely, the need for the Department of Agriculture and Food to introduce a sheep flock tagging system. The alternative being proposed, namely, individual sheep tagging, would be the final nail in the coffin of hill sheep farming in Ireland.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to debate the following matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, the imprisonment in Limerick Prison of the anti-war protester, Fintan Lane, for non-payment of a fine related to a non-violent protest at Shannon Airport against the Government's ongoing complicity in the invasion and occupation of Iraq and that he may soon be followed by another protester, Martin McGowan, who has refused to pay a fine for a crime of planting potatoes at Shannon Airport in a symbolic protest against war, and by three other anti-war protesters facing trial in Shannon District Court in January and two protesters facing trial in Kilrush District Court in February; and the scandal that this Government has acted more quickly and decisively against non-violent protesters who oppose bin charges and war complicity than it does against tax evaders and corrupt politicians.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to highlight the failure by Government to reduce the number of road deaths caused by drinking and driving, and the incidence of drinking and driving in particular, in spite of the carnage on the roads as reported today in the newspapers.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.