Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following urgent matter: the serious implications of the disclosure that a number of women who underwent scans at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, have now been diagnosed with breast cancer; the procedures being put in place to provide the women concerned with appropriate treatment and counselling; the steps being taken to determine whether any similar failure of screening procedures may have occurred in any other hospitals; and the need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline the steps she intends to take to restore public confidence.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following urgent matter: the anxiety, stress, worry and fear on the part of women in the midlands and their families arising from the breast cancer services provided at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and to facilitate an official response from the Minister for Health and Children.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following urgent matter: the death by suicide of a woman at Tallaght hospital last Saturday; and the refusal of the Government to respond positively to the request made on the Adjournment Debate of 31 October 2007 for the appointment of a suicide nurse for whom funding has been made available by the National Suicide Prevention Office but who is not being recruited due to the HSE embargo on staff appointments. The appointment should be made because this is a critical frontline service.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following urgent matter: the misdiagnosis of several women who underwent mammograms and biopsies at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following urgent matter: the refusal of the Taoiseach to answer a parliamentary question regarding when his Department's media monitoring unit, which costs taxpayers more than €373,000 per year and is staffed 18 hours per day, first became aware of press reports referring to the Aer Lingus Belfast-Heathrow proposals; and the action taken by the aforementioned unit as a result.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following urgent matter: that the Minister for Health and Children and the HSE urgently address the need for greater funding for endoscopy services at Beaumont Hospital after a family was forced to take out significant loans in order to pay for immediate private health care for a seriously ill parent due to the ongoing and unacceptable waiting list for critical health services at the hospital and the continuing appalling waiting times for admission in the hospital's accident and emergency unit; and that she would make a statement on the shameful matter.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.
On a point of order, given that the Ceann Comhairle has ruled out the matter I raised under Standing Order 32, perhaps he will advise the House on the arrangements being made or contemplated to allow a debate on this important matter. In view of the fact that the Taoiseach does not seem to be aware of the full picture, perhaps he will allow the Minister for Health and Children to make a detailed statement in the form of an official response to the situation obtaining in the midlands and, perhaps, elsewhere.
I understand we will have a debate on the matter tomorrow.