Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of urgent public concern, namely, that the Government recognise the chaos in the health service and the fact that the HSE has acknowledged that conditions are so bad by stating that it is a testament to staff that no fatalities have resulted to date at the accident and emergency unit in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. In that context, we call for the resignation of the Minister for Health and Children and if she does not resign, she should be sacked for wrecking our hospital services, under which patients are bundled into Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda——
The Deputy is not permitted to go outside the notice submitted to the office of the Ceann Comhairle. I call Deputy McHugh.
——where there is no capacity for them while, at the same time, Louth County Hospital and Monaghan General Hospital——
I suggest the Deputy read Standing Order 31. I call Deputy McHugh.
As a result of the policies of this Government, those people had to go to the edge of——
The Chair heard Deputy Morgan on local radio this morning. Unfortunately, he will be obliged to leave the House if he continues.
I hope the House will heed my call and that the Ceann Comhairle will provide an opportunity to debate my motion.
I ask Deputy Morgan to give way and to obey the Standing Order.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am seeking a debate because this is one of the most important issues facing the State.
If I was the Deputy, I would not try to discuss matters with the Ceann Comhairle on the floor of the House. I call Deputy McHugh.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of local and national importance, namely, the threatened closure of Seamount college, Kinvara, County Galway; the refusal of the Minister for Education and Science to deal effectively with the threat of closure; the inability of the Minister to comprehend the data presented to her by the school action committee, which clearly outlines the projected growth in numbers expected to attend the school; the fact that there is no spare capacity in the two other secondary schools in the area — Gort community school and Calasanctius college, Oranmore; and to allow the Minister for Education and Science, on behalf of the Government, to outline the actions she intends to take to enable Seamount college to survive into the future and to continue to deliver the excellent standard of education for which it has become renowned.
I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order to discuss a matter of major national and local importance, namely, why the Minister for Health and Children has not taken action to ensure that nurses are treated equitably in our hospitals as regards both their working week and their remuneration; and to discuss the fact that there is a 75% drain of nurses out of this country on graduation, who are lost to the State as a result of the appalling working conditions that obtain and who cost the State €80,000 when completing their qualifications; and to discuss the fact that dialogue is urgently needed for a resolution of this situation.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, if the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will urgently respond to the Stardust Relatives and Victims Committee regarding a memorandum submitted to him and the Taoiseach last summer requesting the establishment of a commission of investigation into the appalling tragedy which cost 48 young lives at the Stardust nightclub, Artane, Dublin 5 of which tomorrow is the 26th anniversary; if he and the Government will establish this commission to bring justice and closure to the families of the victims of this terrible disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. We want the Taoiseach to appoint a commission of investigation under the recent Act.
I seek the immediate adjournment of the Dáil to discuss an issue of national importance, namely, the urgent need to resolve the serious crisis in the accident and emergency unit in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where one quarter of all medical admissions spend their entire hospital stay in the accident and emergency unit; and the need to proceed immediately and without further delay with the new accident and emergency unit.
I request the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent national and local importance, namely, the reason the Minister for Transport is satisfied that the announced Dublin city centre HGV ban will not create yet another traffic problem for M50 users. The NRA asserted at the weekend that no assessment of the impact the ban will have on the M50 and its surrounding roads was carried out and that no management plan has been devised to deal with the diversion rates. The Minister must postpone this ban in lieu of an assessment and a management plan being produced.
I request the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of urgent importance, namely, the need for the Minister for Transport to meet a deputation from Tipperary Town Council to discuss the immediate funding of the N24 Tipperary town bypass, which bypass is vital for the economic and social development of Tipperary town and west Tipperary; and to ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of local and national importance, namely, the failure of the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to advance the purchase of an appropriate site to house the Doolin coastguard and rescue service. It is over nine years since the acquisition of a site for the rescue service was deemed to be a priority. Since that time, unfortunately, many lives have been lost in the area and large-scale search and rescue exercises have been undertaken, with no proper changing facilities or a proper base for co-ordinating exercises available to the rescue service. Equally, the families of those lost do not have tea or coffee making facilities available to them at the current site. The lives of all members of the service are constantly put at risk by the inaction of the Ministers.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.