Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent, public and national concern, namely, the proposed redundancies at Lakeland Dairies at the end of this year as part of a restructuring plan which will impact most severely on County Monaghan and, particularly, on the small community of Lough Egish, County Monaghan, where all 60 jobs in the agri-stores and milk drying operations are to go; the devastating effect this body blow will have on the local economy; the additional four jobs in Carrickmacross that are also affected by the Lakelands layoff; and I call on the Departments of Agriculture and Food and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, together with Enterprise Ireland to liaise with staff representatives to salvage the maximum number of these jobs for the Lough Egish and Carrickmacross communities.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance and concern, namely, the proposed 34% increase in gas prices as world oil prices are falling rapidly; and the need for the energy regulator to review his decision to allow these indefensible increases and to support householders, working people, the elderly and disabled on this important matter.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a specific matter requiring urgent attention, namely, the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to reverse his instructions to local authorities, regarding the review and the compilation of the register of electors, which are a threat to democracy and will wrongly delete thousands of electors from the register of electors; and I ask the Minister to fulfil his promise to launch a high profile national and local campaign to highlight the review of the register and make a statement on the matter.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise the following matter of urgent, national and local importance, namely, the need, without delay, to implement the recommendations contained in the report published yesterday by the National Consumer Agency on the issue of management companies, some of which will require new legislation. Many of the recommendations were arrived at following the examination of the lack of consumer protection. The report describes the system as legislatively passive. The solutions, many of which are highlighted in the report, must be heeded.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the announcement this morning that Ryanair has purchased 16% of Aer Lingus and intends to try to buy a majority of the airline; the implications for workers' wages and conditions, passenger welfare, trade union rights and the environment; and the need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement and take questions in the Dáil today on this shocking effect of privatisation of the national airline.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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It is shameful.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Competition how are you.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Really shameful.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent attention today, namely, the serious consequences for the travelling public of the announcement by Ryanair that it has acquired a 16% shareholding in Aer Lingus and that it intends to seek a majority shareholding; and the need for the Government to outline the steps it plans to take to protect Aer Lingus from this predatory takeover.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise an issue of urgent public importance, namely, to allow time for the Taoiseach to clarify if the person from whom he bought his residential home was at the dinner in Manchester where he received a gift of Stg£8,000 and, if so, to explain why he has not named that person as having been present at the dinner; and to state if the house was bought at market value and if all relevant taxes were paid.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise an issue of urgent national importance, namely, the impact of today's European Central Bank interest rate decision and its possible effect on the Irish economy.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise an issue of urgent public importance, namely, the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair and the implications of such a move for competition in the Irish airline industry; and the strategic implications of the possible loss of a major air carrier into Ireland for the Irish economy and society.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31. I call the Taoiseach to take the Order of Business.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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On a point of order, I think the Ceann Comhairle should rephrase the statement "they are not in order". The matters particularly on the crisis——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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They are not in order under Standing Order 31.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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——facing Aer Lingus are in order.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy has a problem, he may wish to contact the office of the Ceann Comhairle.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Chair has just decided he will not allow the matter to be debated——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Deputy, it is not appropriate to raise it in this way.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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——but if the Dáil had any relevance we would debate in an emergency fashion the hijacking of the national airline by O'Leary and Co. and Ryanair.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach has been called.