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 seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national and local importance, namely, the so-called EU third directive, which seeks to fully liberalise the postal service market in Europe by 2009; the potentially disastrous consequences of the directive's implementation, entailing extensive job losses in existing services to be replaced by temporary part-time insecure work and increased costs; the incompatibility of the proposed directive with the universal postal service which provides affordable access for all citizens to quality postal services at uniform tariffs, offering the best prospect for the promotion of the sustainable development of European postal services into the future; and the Hands off my Postman petition being co-ordinated by the Communications Workers Union urging members of the public to articulate their concerns as Irish and European citizens about the so-called third directive.
I seek the adjournment of the Dail to discuss the revelation in The Sunday Tribune that major insurance companies are using former and serving members of the Garda Síochána to pressurise motor accident claimants to settle their disputes rapidly at reduced cost to the companies; are using an incentivisation scheme to induce claimants’ solicitors to persuade the claimants to accept reduced settlements, contributing to massive profits for the companies in question; and to enable the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make a statement and answer questions on these serious matters and the memorandum of understanding between Axa Insurance and the Garda Síochána.
I seek leave under Standing Order 31 to have the business of the Dáil adjourned to discuss a matter of urgent importance, namely, the need for legislation to ensure transparency under the planning Acts in respect of social and affordable housing provision and, specifically, to ensure that in the event that the transfer of the Part V obligation to another site is negotiated with the planning authority, the new location is advertised, appears in the planning lists and is posted clearly on the new site.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention, namely, the serious delay in granting St. Mary's community school, Buttevant, County Cork, permission to build a new school to provide for an increase in student population after ten years' delay. In view of the importance of the issue, I hope the Ceann Comhairle will accede to my request.
I seek the adjournment of the House under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, in light of the fact that patients awaiting living kidney donor transplants at Beaumont Hospital were informed last week that the service has been suspended following a previous misleading statement by the HSE that such operations were continuing uninterrupted, the immediate need for the Minister for Health and Children to clarify the exact position regarding such procedures; provide an alternative facility to perform the tran splants; and guarantee to the House that the report on the debacle, which she will receive later this week, is published without delay to ensure patients are provided with unambiguous information on the current status of transplant procedures at the hospital.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national and local importance, namely, the delay with decisions in a growing number of An Bord Pleanála appeals cases. I have received several notifications of the postponement of planning decisions over recent months due to the increased workload of An Bord Pleanála and am seeking a debate to clarify why such delays are arising, the number of Deputies who are experiencing similar delays, what measures are being taken to remedy the situation and how we can prevent further such situations from arising.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the threat of closure of the accident and emergency department and the intensive care unit at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk in September of this year following the ongoing downgrading of the hospital in recent years.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment make a statement on the decision of the Amgen Corporation to delay by two years the start of its operations in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, and the implications of this on the employment situation in the greater Cork area, particularly in the light of recent job loss announcements in the region.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.