Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32. I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) Link to this

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of local and national importance; namely, the urgent need for this House to have a full and frank discussion on the farming crisis. Farm incomes have dropped by more than 40% on average, but in many difficult wetland areas that figure is much higher. Even more serious are the unworkable regulations that have been imposed, especially on intensive units such as poultry and pig farms, at variance to what is happening in other EU countries. It is unrealistic to expect farmers to farm according to fixed dates for slurry and fertiliser spreading regardless of weather conditions, and the agreements made must be renegotiated. This cannot be dealt with today but I hope it will send a message that we need an urgent debate once the Dáil resumes.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael) Link to this

Hear, hear.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of local and national importance; namely, the shocking state of the health services. This week a 91-year-old woman was left for nine hours on a trolley at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, County Westmeath-----

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael) Link to this

Shame on the Government.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

-----and an 11-year-old boy was put in a life-threatening position by being forced to travel to Portlaoise hospital due to the lack of an anaesthetist at Mullingar hospital, with his appendix almost bursting on the journey. This is despite the Minister’s claim that there have been no cutbacks in services at Mullingar hospital. Such claims are par for the course for Ministers, but no amount of spin can hide the fact that the Government has failed Longford-Westmeath again.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

Despite assurances of assistance, B3 Cables in Longford is to close today with the loss of 100 jobs, which the Government failed to secure, with the company’s business going to Sweden, Spain and Germany.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) Link to this

Good on Deputy Bannon.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

It is a massive body blow for the already hard-hit midlands. Shame on the Tánaiste, the Minister and the Government for the manner in which they acted in this situation and in their delivery of health services for the people of Longford and Westmeath.

Deputies:

What about the Green Party?

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy, please.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

On six different occasions this week-----

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

There is an agreed way of dealing with matters raised under Standing Order 32, and the Deputy is outside the framework.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

-----I have raised these matters under Standing Order 32. I also raised them as special notice questions-----

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

I ask the Deputy to resume his seat. There are five more Deputies who wish to raise matters.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

-----but the Ceann Comhairle failed to take them.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy, resume your seat, please.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

What forum do we have to deal with issues of concern to our constituents?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) Link to this

Hear, hear.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) Link to this

The Deputy should try Joe Duffy.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy, there are so many other ways of raising these matters.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

What forum do we have when the Ceann Comhairle refuses to hear these issues?

Noel Dempsey (Minister, Department of Transport; Meath West, Fianna Fail) Link to this

He should write to the County Council.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy, resume your seat, please.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

He is in cahoots with the Government.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy, just resume your seat.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) Link to this

They are in cahoots.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) Link to this

There are the stags’ heads over there.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy Finian McGrath.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

Where is the forum?

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy Bannon, resume your seat. I do not want to ask you to leave this morning.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

Do I have a commitment that my special notice question will be taken today?

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Yes.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

Is that a firm yes?

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy, just resume your seat.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) Link to this

Thank you.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Deputy McGrath.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) Link to this

I am sorry; I could not hear the Ceann Comhairle above the noise.

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern; namely, the urgent need to support those who work in the taxi industry. I am concerned that in the legislation that created the Commission for Taxi Regulation, no facility was granted for an appeals procedure should drivers disagree with any decision taken by the commission, which since its inception has amassed €23 million in funds from the sale of licences, licence renewal fees and on-the-spot fines. I call on the Minister and the Government to support taxi drivers with common-sense policies, particularly at this difficult economic time.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) Link to this

You must accept that for the Government backbenchers, a Cheann Comhairle.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) Link to this

Ba mhaith liom an Dáil a chur ar athló faoi réir Buan Órdú 32 chun déileáil leis an ghné rí-thábhactach seo gur cóir a phlé sa Dáil: the urgent need for the Government to use the summer months to reflect on the grave damage it has done to the country and its people, as demonstrated by the growing numbers unemployed, the mortgage arrears crisis, the hugely disproportionate cuts to the community and voluntary sector, on which more and more people now depend, the slashing cuts and restrictions imposed on some of our most basic social welfare schemes, its steadfast refusal to tax the rich, and its lack of acknowledgement that it no longer has a mandate from the people to run the country, a fact that underpins its refusal to hold three by-elections which it now knows it could never win.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) Link to this

And the tent as well.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour) Link to this

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention: the need to reopen the respite house at Clonile, Caherdavin, County Limerick, immediately in order to restore respite services to families in the mid-west who are caring for adults with intellectual disabilities and the need to resolve the issue in advance of the adjournment of the Dáil for the summer recess. I acknowledge that the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moloney, came to the House around midnight last night and gave us the good news that the Galway services are safe until the end of this year. However, the Limerick service remains closed and we must have an announcement today that the service will reopen for those families.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

The Deputy has done well.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael) Link to this

It was people power that did it.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour) Link to this

The Ceann Comhairle told me before I had done well, but I will not have done well until that respite house reopens.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour) Link to this

Well done.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael) Link to this

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to debate the following matter of urgent national importance: the fourth annual report of the independent monitoring group on A Vision for Change, the report of the expert group on mental health policy, which states that there was little substantial progress in 2009 in implementing the recommendations of the report, expresses frustration and confusion about the constantly changing management structures, and states that there is an absence of mental health leadership at a corporate level.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael) Link to this

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, to call on the Minister for Heath and Children - who is in the House - and on the Taoiseach to make an announcement before the House here today that the respite services for intellectually disabled adults at Clonisle, Caherdavin, Limerick, run by the Brothers of Charity, Bawnmore, will be reopened with immediate effect to provide the vital necessary respite services to the 63 individuals and families who have been put through three weeks of extreme hell and anxiety with the loss of this vital service, at a cost of just €150,000. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, for coming before the House last night. However, what we want is a commitment from the Government today that this respite service will be reopened. Elderly people came to Dublin yesterday about this issue. I would like to hear what the Minister for Health and Children has to say.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

The Deputy is embellishing the story.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael) Link to this

This is so important. What we want is for the Minister for Health and Children or the Minister with responsibility for disability to come before the House to say this service will be reopened. This is about real people’s lives. Yesterday, the Taoiseach was here talking about 130 people as if they did not exist.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Will the Deputy please resume his seat?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael) Link to this

Are we going to get a commitment today to have this respite service reopened. This is too important an issue to be passed over.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

The point is well made.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael) Link to this

The Government needs to take this issue seriously. We will not leave today until we have a response.

Séamus Kirk (Ceann Comhairle; Louth, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this

Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.