Dáil debates
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32
11:00 am
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 the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.
Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil once again under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the continued embargo on recruitment in the HSE which is putting lives at risk. I have raised this before on the Adjournment. It is a matter for the Government to intervene and address this increasingly dangerous situation. Elderly people are losing day care services all around the country because of this embargo excuse. This is happening in my own town, in the Plunkett Home in Boyle. I ask the Minister to address this problem. The people who built up this country must be remembered. Day care services must be retained all over the country.
Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss an important matter, namely, the ongoing fear and anxiety now shared by many members of staff and thousands of families in its catchment area that Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe is being allowed to run down by the HSE. I call on the Minister for Health and Children, and the HSE, to organise urgently a promised meeting with the unions involved so that the exact situation of this vital general hospital will be made known to the thousands of people who are expected to march in Ballinasloe next Sunday, 28 March, to show their solidarity with an institution that has proved its worth a thousandfold to countless families down through the years.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, did the Ceann Comhairle receive a request under Standing Order 32 from my office?
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have not been advised of it.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It was sent yesterday.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will have to check. I simply do not have it.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sure that if the Deputy resubmits the matter we can deal with it tomorrow.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It was really a matter for today, which was submitted well in advance.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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If we get into that we will set a precedent and we are going to have a problem. The Deputy should resubmit it tomorrow and we can deal with it at that stage.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Alternatively, the Deputy can raise it on the Adjournment tonight.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Adjournment is not the greatest place in the world to raise an issue of vital national importance. This relates to the adjournment of the House to deal with certain vital issues.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are not on a point of order now.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I do not want to be disruptive, but I do want to make the situation clear. This matter under Standing Order 32 was submitted to the Ceann Comhairle's office at 10 a.m. yesterday. It was received and acknowledged in the office, yet the Ceann Comhairle now says he has no knowledge of it.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but the matter was referred on to today when it was brought to my attention that there would be no matters raised under Standing Order 32 yesterday morning.
Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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On a point of information, I agree with the Deputy. My matter under Standing Order 32 was sent in yesterday morning and accepted. I support my colleague.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will have to check, Deputy, but that is the position. The Deputy can take it there has been no attempt to deprive him of his rights in the House.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle should let the Deputy read out his matter.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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If he submits it tomorrow for consideration it can be dealt with at that stage.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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May I read it out, a Cheann Comhairle, since it was submitted on time?
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot allow a precedent to be established on this matter. I would like to accommodate the Deputy, but tomorrow will be the day to do so.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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In order to protect Members of the House, can the Ceann Comhairle give me some indication of how a similar situation might be dealt with in the future? For example, if some Member of the House-----
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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If some Member submits a similar request under Standing Order 32 tomorrow and it is not acknowledged, who has responsibility? To whom do we then make representations? This is our right under Standing Orders.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Inquiries can be made to my office or whoever is in the Chair at the time.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but I am not here to make inquiries. I am here to ensure my rights as a Deputy are observed under Standing Orders.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I apologise profusely to the Deputy if his rights have been in any way compromised or neglected. I do not know what happened to the matter the Deputy submitted yesterday, but I will check and get back to him.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle should bring the Deputy to his office for coffee.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will consider that. In the meantime, we will move on with the Order of Business.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, I did not come to the House for coffee. I came for a different purpose altogether.
Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Even with a biscuit?
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is relevant to the issues that have been raised by my colleagues already.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have explained the position to the Deputy. He may submit his matter again and call to the office and we can discuss the matter. I will check to see what the difficulty was.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Ceann Comhairle accept a private notice question on the issue?
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy submits one it will certainly be considered, although I cannot give any guarantees.