Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 31, I seek to move the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention: the pressing need for the Minister for Education and Science to take such measures as will immediately lead to our meeting the needs of hearing-impaired children in the Galway area, including the restoration of the service which has been suspended for almost five years and the appointment of two visiting teachers, which should be notified to schools and parents before the end of the current school year. There is a further need for the Minister of State with responsibility for children to secure the rights of hearing-impaired children through instructing the HSE to recruit an audiological scientist immediately, if necessary filling such a position following an immediate appropriate advertisement in Ireland, Britain and other countries. In view of the importance of the issue, I hope the Ceann Comhairle will agree to the request.

See this speech in context