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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 7 Apr 2004

Vol. 583 No. 4

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.

Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the situation pertaining at Monaghan General Hospital "off call" since July 2002, where, despite the recent upgrading of cardiac rehabilitation facilities incorporating a cardiac imaging unit and upgraded cardiac stress room with a minimal waiting list, heart attack patients in ambulances are not admitted to and are driven past Monaghan General Hospital, while patients brought by private car are admitted to the unit, thereby increasing their chances of survival; and the urgent necessity for the Minister for Health and Children to immediately address this anomaly by a more efficient use of resources to the fullest capacity across the north east to reduce waiting lists in other hospitals by the immediate restoration of "on call" status to Monaghan General Hospital.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, that the Government has allowed the spending of public moneys by the commission on electronic voting without the authorisation of the Dáil; and to allow the Government to state what funding has been made available to the commission to discharge its duties, and from where it came.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the continuing failure of the Government to release the long-awaited feasibility study report into an all-Ireland helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS, although this report has been received by the Government and the results of which have not been released by it, despite the fact that we are the only country in Europe without this service, North or South, and despite the fact that people, particularly the young, continue to die or suffer permanent disability due to the lack of a HEMS.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the plans by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to undermine the democratic process by making provision in the proposed national infrastructure board for fast-tracking the building of poisonous incinerators, regardless of the legitimate concerns of local communities; the Minister's failure to implement any real strategy for the reduction of waste being created; the continuing lack of recycling facilities throughout the State, especially in the north east; and the necessity to engage a psychiatrist to try to convince the Minister to abandon his attempts to introduce incineration.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the failure of the Minister for Health and Children to provide adolescent psychiatric services to respond to the approximately 600 girls and 300 boys per 100,000 of the population who cause deliberate self-harm each year, 1% of whom take their lives; and the scandalous situation whereby the estimate for mental health expenditure in 2004 is down to 6.69% of the total health budget.

I call Deputy Ferris.

A Deputy

Tá sé as láthair.

I call Deputy Joe Higgins.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the failure of the Minister for Health and Children and the Northern Area Health Board to provide immediate funding for two urgent needs in west Dublin: the immediate opening of the new accident and emergency facility and related wards at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, to relieve intolerable pressure on staff and patients; and for the immediate construction of a health care centre in Mulhuddart to cater for the fastest growing population area in Europe.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the need to address the hiatus which has arisen in regard to the future of marine facilities and amenities at Balbriggan and Skerries harbours and in regard to the interest now being shown by Fingal County Council in acquiring these public properties from Dublin Port Company, if €10 million can be found to bring the harbours up to a manageable standard; and the promise by the Government for consultation on that matter to take place and the need to establish a date for that consultation.

Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.

On a point of order, I unsuccessfully raised the same matter under Standing Order 31 last week and this morning. I want to know how the Government could spend money on electronic voting-——

That is not a point of order. The Deputy should submit a question to the appropriate Minister.

The Government is misusing the Finance Act by using a contingency fund.

It is not a point of order. The Deputy knows he is being disorderly.

How do I get an answer to this? My question concerns irregular use of funding.

The Deputy should submit a question to the appropriate Minister.

It is a valid point.

The Deputy has been in the House long enough to know the Standing Orders.

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