Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with 15 notices under Standing Order 31. I call Deputy Finian McGrath.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to debate a specific matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the major crisis in the accident and emergency departments in our hospitals, where patients are on trolleys, and the urgent need to increase bed capacity in hospitals and invest in primary care.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, to call on the Government to establish a redress board to examine the approximately 100 remaining cases of the mistreatment of female members of Patient Focus at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and to bring some degree of closure to the trauma, pain and suffering endured by these women as a result of serious malpractice at the hospital.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the serious implications for employment and farming in the Leinster area of the decision to close the Greencore sugar plant in Carlow and the need for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to enter into discussions with the company with a view to the retention of the plant, especially as no decisions have yet been taken at EU level regarding the future of the sugar industry.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the ongoing problems of the ladies who were operated on in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, represented by Patient Focus, a case which is ongoing since January 1998 and includes the issue of missing files and the failure of the Minister to meet the representative group, although I understand this has been rectified. It is also necessary to set up a redress board urgently.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, in the light of the Greencore decision to close the Carlow sugar factory, the urgent need for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to outline the action, if any, she is taking to avert the closure of the factory, the measures she intends to take to reduce the potential impact which the EU reforms will have on the Irish sugar industry, and if she will clarify the ownership of the Irish sugar quota.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need for Government action to prevent serious disruption to the postal service arising from the imminent industrial action by staff following the decision by An Post management to suspend 68 workers at SDS at a time when matters were due to be considered by the Labour Relations Commission and in the light of the statement today by the national implementation body.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the urgent need for the Government to establish a redress board to allow the many dozens of women who suffered at the hands of Dr. Michael Neary in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, to bring closure to these events; receive an explanation and acknowledgment of what happened and the assurance that such abuse cannot happen again.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the inexplicable decision of the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, to axe the funding of the Community Workers Co-operative which has provided an invaluable service for the last 24 years, addressing poverty and promoting social inclusion, helping to co-ordinate the work of community groups in disadvantaged areas, the immediate need for the reversal of this decision and the restoration of essential funding.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to establish a redress board for those women victims of gross malpractice, including the carrying out of unnecessary Caesarian hysterectomy procedures, at the obstetrics and gynaecology unit of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda between 1974 and 1998 and for the full disclosure to the women concerned of all information pertaining to each of their cases.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the deteriorating situation in An Post and the likely negative economic impact of the loss of postal services and employment in An Post, and the need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to take steps to bring about an improvement in the situation. I acknowledge the information on the national implementation body which the Taoiseach gave to Deputy Kenny today.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the necessity for the Department of Health and Children to establish a redress board to address the plight of those women who were subjected to unnecessary Caesarian hysterectomies by Dr. Michael Neary in Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, between 1974 and 1988 and, further, that this board would also have within its remit addressing the many cases of unnecessary symphysiotomy carried out at this hospital until the early 1980s.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the revelation by the Council of Europe that Ireland now has the highest rate of amphetamine use and the second highest rate of cocaine use in Europe; the need for more effective action to increase enforcement against drug traffickers and the right of this House to hold the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to account for his failure to prioritise this issue because it does not either suit his ideological agenda or affect the elite in Dublin 4.
The Deputy should keep at the Minister.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the unacceptable treatment of 68 parcel division workers of An Post who were suspended on Monday when the semi-State company acted in extreme bad faith by taking action before an agreed meeting with the Labour Relations Commission to discuss issues around the closure of the parcel division, and the need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to encourage management of the company to reinstate the 68 workers and enter into discussions with the Communications Workers Union as was previously agreed.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, that the Government commits to a national funding framework for the violence against women sector with roles, responsibilities and budgets defined within each of the six Departments with a responsibility to violence against women services and that national funding totalling €7 million be provided for this sector in the Finance Bill in February 2005.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the disturbing findings of a report published earlier today which indicates that a large majority of Irish people are not happy with the economic and political climate on the island, as well as the need to discuss what measures can be taken to address this situation.
An election would address it.
An election would be quite welcome.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.