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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Apr 2007

Vol. 636 No. 2

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 seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the ongoing crisis of school places in Dublin 15 and the inability of many children to get a place in their local primary schools in Diswillstown, Clonsilla and Clonee in particular. In view of the importance of this issue I hope the Ceann Comhairle agrees to this request.

I had my hand up, by the way, to ask the Taoiseach about an information commissioner of interceptions, such as exists in other jurisdictions, the UK for instance, where people have a right to have this information in the form of an annual report which shows some transparency. Because of the proliferation of technology and fears that gardaí are using this mechanism as a net to totally blanket an area in investigating crime, while such initiatives are only right, there have to be proper safeguards. There is a commissioner of interceptions in the UK with powers to do that and we should have something similar here.

The House is dealing with Standing Order 31 requests. I call Deputy Morgan.

I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of major national and local importance, namely, the need for a new plan of development to be approved by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as the existing plan is now invalid following the vacating of Shell's compulsory acquisition orders against certain landowners in Rossport by Justice Laffoy of the High Court which makes it clear that a new pipeline route must now be found by Shell as the previous plan is defunct since the development model for the Corrib gas project has been materially altered and this requires under the terms of the 1992 licensing terms a new plan of development; and if the Minister will grasp the opportunity to intervene and reconfigure the Corrib gas project by insisting on a new plan that is the product of agreement between the developer, Shell, and the local community which could be developed through an independent commission as proposed by me and Dr. Mark Garavan. This has widespread support politically and within the community.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public concern, namely, the lack of speech, physiotherapy and occupational therapists in the north east, particularly for children and adults with special needs, and the practice of not replacing therapists when they are on leave; and the unacceptable delay by the Minister for Health and Children, her Department and the HSE in ensuring there are adequate numbers of therapists to cater for children with special needs resulting in parents either having to shoulder the burden of the costs of private treatment or children not receiving any treatment at all.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national and local concern, namely, the proposed transfer of the community welfare offices and officers, CWOs, from the Department of Health and Children to the Department of Social and Family Affairs; the potential conflict of interest that would occur when CWOs assist clients with appeals against suspension of payments by their prospective employer, namely, the Department of Social and Family Affairs; and in my constituency, Cavan-Monaghan, the consequent reduction from 41 weekly rural CWO clinics to seven, and its implications for aged, vulnerable and dependent populations, who by and large have no form of private or public transport; the lack of consultation with CWOs, clients or service users in relation to the future of this service; and the lack of clarity regarding status, location and working conditions of CWO staff under the proposed transfer.

I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dail to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform urgently finalises arrangements for facilitating an investigation by an eminent legal person into the tragic fire at the Stardust nightclub, Artane, Dublin 5, in 1981 which took 48 young lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. This is the 50th time I have raised the issue with the Taoiseach. With a few days to go, will he try to look after our own people?

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

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