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 the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the HSE plans to close Loughloe House nursing home in Athlone; the urgent need by the Minister for Health and Children to publish the HIQA report into the facility; and the failure of the Minister to provide adequate resources for the centre in order to allow it to continue in use as a residential centre for the elderly citizens of south Westmeath.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am glad the Minister for Health and Children is in the House to hear this and perhaps she would oblige us by taking this issue today. I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of local and national importance, namely, the closure of Loughloe House, Athlone, County Westmeath, which is due to shut within the next two months, leaving elderly residents, many of whom have been there for decades, forced to leave family and friends to take up alternative accommodation out of their own communities. The decision was taken by the HSE purely on financial grounds, with little regard for the elderly, in a move that is akin to eviction and will be mirrored throughout the country in the months ahead.

More than 2,000 people took part in a march in Athlone protesting against the actions of the HSE. Last night nearly 500 people attended a public meeting in Athlone.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I would discourage the Deputy from embellishing his contribution.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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There is a cavalcade travelling to HSE offices as we speak protesting against the actions of the executive.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We must move on. The Deputy is in the embellishment business.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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It is overseen by the Minister for Health and Children

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. I call Deputy Arthur Morgan.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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It is a shameful action being suffered by the people of the midlands.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, to allow the Minister for Health - or should I say ill health - and Children to outline to the Dáil how she will avoid a medical catastrophe on 1 July when all acute medical provision is due to be withdrawn from the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, and transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, which is already grossly overcrowded and struggling to cope with patient numbers. Is she planning to consult the Medical Council and other health authorities to avert this pending health care nightmare for people in the north east and Dundalk in particular? Will she clarify urgently what steps she is proposing to take in this regard? It is important that she is aware that the Government cannot continue trying to pass the buck to the HSE and claiming something that will deal a death knell to the area of the Ceann Comhairle and me is not her policy. It is unacceptable and I hope the Ceann Comhairle will allow a debate on this matter.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I wish to move the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 on the following matter of national importance, namely, that the Minister for Transport should urgently report to Dáil Éireann on the changes this week to the guidelines on air travel during volcanic ash cloud conditions and to outline the Government's latest response at national and EU level to address all of the outstanding issues relating to the ongoing volcanic ash crisis in view of the importance of our aviation and tourism industries. I also ask for a Private Notice Question on this matter. Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will respond to my request.

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