Dáil debates

Thursday, 18 February 2010

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32

 

10:30 am

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Given that Fianna Fáil looped the Green Party members yesterday into a three card trick arrangement over the O'Dea affair and that those Members have trumpeted education reform, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the threat to the education of our second level students and to the future needs of the economy due to the findings of a recent report which highlights the fact that approximately half of mathematics teachers in secondary schools are unqualified-----

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What report is that?

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----which goes a long way to explaining why only 20% of pupils opt to take higher level leaving certificate mathematics. This is a significant indictment of the Government, and the Green Party members in government who continually talk about the need for an increase in the number taking higher level mathematics but, on the other hand, turn a blind eye to the disgracefully substandard teaching that is being given to our secondary school pupils.

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Hear, hear.

Deputies:

It is surely a certainty that this matter will be taken.

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to give an undertaking to the House that she will immediately underwrite the applications from former SR Technics employees for third level education courses, while they await confirmation from the European globalisation fund, to ensure that these people get access to courses before the close-off date for funding under the fund in October 2011, and to get an undertaking from the Minister that she will directly intervene in the decision by the Dublin Institute of Technology not to proceed with the proposed acceleration of the engineering systems maintenance course for the former SR Technics employees because of the failure by her Department to commit or underwrite funds - which would not cost her anything - for these courses. It is clear that these workers have been let down by the Government on many occasions and there is a serious onus on the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on this occasion to underwrite these courses immediately in order that these workers can be up-skilled, which is part of Government policy. This is Tánaiste's chance to show that.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I seek leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the urgent need to resolve the crisis at Dublin Airport with regard to the potential of 300 jobs for former SR Technics staff and call on the Government, Ryanair and other interested parties to act in a sensible and common sense manner to ensure these jobs are created for the north side of Dublin.

Photo of John CreganJohn Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Hear, hear.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We support that.

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance, namely, the fact that tens of thousands of workers, especially those in many local authorities, cannot avail of the cycle to work scheme introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government last year. The local authorities, although they are under the direction of the said Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, have no intention of introducing the scheme. I ask the Minister to investigate that anomaly immediately.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On a point of order, Sir, I submitted to you a Standing Order 32 request arising out of the statement made yesterday evening in this House by the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, in which he admitted confidential information furnished to him as Minister for Defence-----

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My office has written to the Department in regard to the Standing Order 32-----

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----by members of the Garda Síochána had been improperly used for his own electoral gain.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I ask the Deputy to resume his seat for a moment.

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Sir, this is an issue of enormous seriousness.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not disputing that matter but there are ways and means of dealing with it.

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At the end of the debate yesterday the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, came into this House-----

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy, resume your seat please.

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----and, as Minister for Defence, admitted he made a statement-----

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Deputy resume his seat until I explain the position to him as I did in the letter that was sent to him?

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

------that was untrue based on confidential information given to him as a Minister.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Deputy resume his seat please?

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This man has responsibility for the security of this State.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Shatter, resume your seat.

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is outrageous and unacceptable and he should no longer be a member of Cabinet.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy, resume your seat. Under Standing Order 32, a matter was raised on the motion to adjourn the Dáil which is not a substantive motion. Charges of the kind raised in Deputy Shatter's notice can only be made against a Member by way of a substantive motion. We will move on to-----

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This man should not still be in Cabinet.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----the Order of Business.

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No member of the Garda Síochána-----