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, namely, plans to sell Health Service Executive lands in Tuam, Ballinasloe and Portumna, County Galway. The sale of the lands in Tuam will prohibit the construction of a community hospital, primary care unit and other health-related buildings which the Taoiseach promised to provide on his return to Government in 2002. The sale of the Portumna lands will prohibit the development of the €24 million Portumna workhouse project as planned by South East Galway Integrated Rural Development Limited. The sale of the Ballinasloe lands will put in jeopardy future development of health-related projects in the town.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to clarify whether the Health Service Executive has plans to sell off a major portion of the land it owns surrounding the former Bons Secours Hospital in Tuam, County Galway, whether the future plans and development of a community hospital for Tuam are doomed to failure if such a sale takes place and to outline why her Government purchased this property in the first place if it was not intended to develop the site for a community hospital, as promised by the Taoiseach prior to the last general election.
I sought the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the abandoned migrant workers on an island off Skerries but in view of the commitment and information given by the Taoiseach to my party leader, Deputy Rabbitte, this afternoon, I do not intend to proceed with my request. However, I hope we will have an opportunity to have a debate on this issue tomorrow or on Thursday. I ask the Taoiseach to facilitate that.
That does not arise at this stage.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the large number of house purchasers who have been forced to become members of housing estate management companies. While it is welcome that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has outlawed the practice for future housing estates, the practice needs to be outlawed retrospectively. This, together with the lack of legal protection for apartment owners by way of property management companies, requires urgent consideration.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of local and national importance, namely, the failure of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to provide a new station at Doolin for the Doolin coast guard and rescue service. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Office of Public Works announced this facility eight years ago. In view of the tragic events at this location over the recent bank holiday weekend, it is imperative that proper facilities are provided without further delay.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of specific and important public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to introduce a code of conduct for local authority managers and senior staff in light of concerns regarding the movement of county managers and senior staff into the private sector in recent years.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely, that the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment state the extent to which the Government supports, or otherwise, the position to be taken by the European Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Peter Mandelson, at forthcoming World Trade Organisation talks, a position that will allow the large scale additional importation of agricultural goods into this country at lower levels of health, environmental and food safety standards than are found here and to an extent that will significantly undermine high quality agricultural production in Ireland.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of vital national interest, namely, the ongoing issue of unresolved difficulties in An Post with the distinct possibility of the termination of services with obvious negative consequences for consumers, the economy and postal workers, and the urgent need for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to report to the House on his discussions to date with either or both parties with a view to ensuring continuity of service and a lasting resolution to the underlying issues.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major national importance, namely, to seek the urgent intervention of the Taoiseach and the Government to ensure European Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, does not succeed in destroying the livelihood of all Irish farmers by his perverse actions in the EU-World Trade Organisation negotiations.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public concern, namely, the necessity for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to take greater measures to prevent the exploitation and mistreatment of migrant workers in light of the fact that 13 eastern European periwinkle pickers were abandoned on an island off Skerries in north County Dublin last Saturday night and had to be rescued by the lifeboat service.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to allow the various Ministers responsible to make full statements to the House on the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of 13 eastern European periwinkle pickers on Colt Island off Skerries and if they will outline the Government's response to calls from the Green Party, SIPTU and many others for a full inquiry into this growing pattern of exploitation of non-national workers, including this incident, before it is too late and a tragic loss of life occurs, as happened in the terrible incident of multiple drownings in Morecambe Bay.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.