Séamus Kirk (Louth, 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 32. I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the urgent need for the Government to respond immediately to the flooding crisis and to the devastation caused to people in so many cities, towns such as Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen, villages and rural areas and to ensure that immediate relief measures and adequate emergency funding is made available to those seriously affected. If anything qualifies to have the House adjourned under Standing Order 32, surely it is this matter.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the hardship caused to families, businesses and people involved in agriculture as a result of recent flooding and the need to provide humanitarian and other assistance to people in affected areas throughout the country.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There is no co-ordination on the Fine Gael Front Bench.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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There is no sign of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, on the Government benches.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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He has gone to Ardnacrusha.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the measures being taken to deal with the consequences of the flooding experienced in a number of parts of the country during the past week, the assistance that will be provided to those whose homes or businesses have been destroyed, if it is intended to apply for moneys from the EU Solidarity Fund in order to assist with meeting the cost of the crisis and the steps that are being taken to establish the causes of the flooding and to ensure that adequate preventative measures will be put in place for the future.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the measures being taken by the Government to deal with the consequences of the disastrous flooding in Cork city in recent days, which has led to some 18,000 homes being without water supplies, the steps being taken to ensure the urgent restoration of those supplies, particularly in the context of health and hygiene, the steps that are being taken to establish the causes of the severe flooding in Cork and to ensure that adequate preventative measures will be put in place for the future.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Having considered the matters raised, they are not in accordance with Standing Order 32.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will move on. Deputy Hogan should resume his seat.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It is on Private Members' business as well.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Members will have ample opportunity to ventilate these issues later. We are moving on.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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We may as well not be here at all.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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What about Private Members' business?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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What constitutes approval for a Standing Order 32 request?

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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On a point of order, could the Ceann Comhairle read out the criteria in order that we can all understand the rationale?

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Standing Order 32 should be abolished.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should call to my office tomorrow and we will discuss it.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Could the Ceann Comhairle please read out the criteria for allowing a Standing Order 32 request?

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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How dare the Ceann Comhairle-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat. I am calling the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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On a point order-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are moving on with the business of the House.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle should read the Standing Orders.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Will the Ceann Comhairle please deal with my point of order?

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat. We have agreed the schedule for the rest of the day.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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We do not care what we do until the Ceann Comhairle gets a little sense. Does he not know there are 700 people in Ballinsloe who cannot get in or out of their houses?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, does the Ceann Comhairle agree that on an occasion such as this when flooding is prevalent throughout the country, it is important to utilise this Standing Order now for the House to be relevant?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will have ample opportunity to make those points later. I call the Taoiseach on the Order of Business.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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What the Ceann Comhairle is at is outrageous.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are moving on with the business of the House.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Why do the Deputies not go down with the galvanised buckets?

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Can I raise a point of order?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy O'Keeffe to resume his seat.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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How much of the country has to be under water before the Ceann Comhairle grants a Standing Order 32 request?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It shows how little they care about the people who are affected.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I made a request under Standing Order 32. By coincidence, I happen to be 32 years in the House. I have not made such a request of the Ceann Comhairle or his predecessors before, except on a matter relating to Northern Ireland. If the Ceann Comhairle finds that his hands are tied, could I redirect the issue to the Taoiseach? The Taoiseach is entitled to say to the House that the Government accepts the gravity of the situation and the concern of all Members

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is not allowed to make a long Second Stage speech as a point of order.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Does the Ceann Comhairle accept the Taoiseach is able to agree to have this motion taken this evening?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A motion will be taken in the House at 7 p.m.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will discuss the issue between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. I will have to suspend the House if Deputies are not prepared to co-operate. I ask Deputies Connaughton and McCormack to resume their seat.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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We are not relevant.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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On a point of order, the Ceann Comhairle has taken points of order from two Fine Gael Members. I request the same measure of respect be extended to the Labour Party by him.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thought Fine Gael and the Labour Party were all the one. Are there divisions already?

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Yesterday before 10 a.m. I sent a request to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle seeking a Private Notice Question on this issue.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy was up early.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I understand operational restrictions are in place in the House and perhaps the Private Notice Question could not have been taken this afternoon. However, several requests have been made for Private Notice Questions and under Standing Order 32. There is an emergency.

John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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What about Private Members' business?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is a national emergency.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am fully aware of that. A debate will commence at 7 p.m. I ask Deputy Lynch to resume his seat.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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We did not see too many Opposition Deputies out with sandbags at the weekend.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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On a point of order-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will have ample opportunity to discuss this between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and all the points that need to be made can be made. Deputy Ciarán Lynch should resume his seat.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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The Ceann Comhairle has totally different operational procedures-----

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Deputy think the people who are in trouble are bothered by operational procedures? The Deputy is being shown up for what he is.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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There are totally different operational measures in place for a Private Members' debate than for a Private Notice Question.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.