Dáil debates
Wednesday, 30 June 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 Deputies in the order in which they submitted notices to my office.
Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss the important matter of the proposed flood alleviation measures on the Dunkellin river in south Galway, which were promised by the Government some months ago. I specifically ask the Minister of State with special responsibility for the OPW if the promise he gave to local politicians, farm leaders and community groups that a remedial scheme to improve drainage on the Dunkellin river would be fulfilled this June, if such plans are ready for publication and if he will agree that great value can now be obtained from the relevant contractors who have so little work to carry out and the exceptional good weather which makes such jobs much easier to carry out.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dail under Standing Order 32 to discuss an issue of national importance and concern, namely, the urgent need for the Government to build the new cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, the need to deplore the recent delays on this major project and the need to ensure that cystic fibrosis patients have en-suite rooms to deal with the cross-infection issue. I call on the Minister and the Government to ensure that 34 beds are allocated from the 120 bed unit for cystic fibrosis patients as a matter of urgency.
As this is a serious national issue, I ask the Ceann Comhairle to consider a request for this debate. I would like a two-hour debate any time in the next two or three days. We are having Friday sittings and debates about stags and I ask the Ceann Comhairle to facilitate a debate on what the hell is going on in the hospital for cystic fibrosis patients. In the past the Taoiseach has supported the project, along with Ministers.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is going beyond the agreed formula.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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People are going to St. Vincent's Hospital today and sitting in accident and emergency departments while worried about cross-infection.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is embellishing the story.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I am very serious and I ask the Ceann Comhairle to consider the position. We have Friday sittings and late sittings so surely we can agree to have a two-hour debate on what the hell is going on at St. Vincent's Hospital to support these patients. It is a life and death matter for these people, who have received promises from successive taoisigh. It is a real issue for many people. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to consider my request. I will not sit down until I get a reasonable answer.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will deal with it but there is another Deputy offering. Other Members must be considered.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I urge the Ceann Comhairle to consider my request.
Dan Neville (Limerick 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, that figures published yesterday show suicides for 2009 increased by 24% over the previous year. The figures show an increase from 424 in 2008 to 527 deaths by suicide last year. The real figure is much higher; alarmingly, there were 195 deaths classified as "undetermined", with international research showing that a considerable number of these were suicide. The Minister for Health and Children must recognise that the psychological impact of economic recession on public health is very severe and should immediately allocate resources to respond to the crisis. I suggest that the issue is in the national public interest and is important.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I wish to challenge that position.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The position of cystic fibrosis patients in St. Vincent's Hospital is a very serious matter and it can be dealt with sensibly.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not disagree with the Deputy but he should submit the matter for consideration for the Adjournment.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is a matter of national importance and people's lives are at risk.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should submit a matter on the Adjournment.
This is a matter of national importance. There are people's lives at risk.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should submit the matter for discussion on the Adjournment debate.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is a project that is supported by many people in this House.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is challenging a ruling of the Chair.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I will not sit down unless it is agreed to debate this issue.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have advised the Deputy-----
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I will not sit down. This is a serious issue for people.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----to submit the matter for discussion on the Adjournment-----
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I will not sit down unless I get agreement for a debate on the issue.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----tonight or tomorrow night.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I will not accept debate on the issue on the Adjournment. I am asking that the House facilitate a two-hour debate on the issue anytime in the next 48 hours or even next week.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I will even accept it being taken at 10 p.m. tonight.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is being disorderly.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I am not being disruptive.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are moving on to the Order of Business.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle-----
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The stag hunting issue was dealt with yesterday, which is fair enough. I urge the House to deal with the priority issue I have raised. I ask the Government to be sensible and deal with the particular issue.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have advised the Deputy to submit a matter for consideration for the Adjournment debate.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order-----
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I will not submit the matter for discussion on the Adjournment debate. It is more important that the issue be debated on the floor of the House.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, the matter raised by Deputy McGrath is an issue of national importance.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There are only a few sitting days remaining.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Can we have a debate on this issue?
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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We performed gymnastics to get the banks out of trouble. There is a political will to sort out nonsensical issues such as-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have advised the Deputy to submit the matter for consideration for the Adjournment debate.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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That is not any good to the people in this country who are dying ten years younger-----
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Five minutes of a joke.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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-----than their counterparts in the north of Ireland.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on the issue now.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle lives in a Border area-----
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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-----and he knows full well what is going on.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are moving on with the Order of Business.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Where is the political will to make this happen? Where is the political will that should be making this happen? We should be building this unit-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Resume your seat, Deputy.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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-----which should not be contingent on tendering-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is out of order.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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-----that is obviously dysfunctional and we are going to lose another year.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is spreading and encouraging disorder. I must ask the Deputy to resume his seat-----
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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How many more people with cystic fibrosis-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----or I will have to ask him to leave the House.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not wish to have to ask the Deputy to leave the House but I will have to do so if he does not resume his seat.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I do not wish to be asked to leave the House but I do not want to see any more people with cystic fibrosis die unnecessarily in this country.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, please resume your seat.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I believe the House and the Taoiseach should give serious consideration to the matter raised.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle is restricted in terms of how he can accommodate a request. I believe Deputy McGrath's request is valid and appropriate-----
Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Anybody could have raised it.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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-----under Standing Order 32. The Government has the opportunity to respond favourably to the Deputy's request, which I believe reflects the views of all opinion in this House-----
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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-----regarding those who suffer from cystic fibrosis. This is not an issue of interest to only one Deputy.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, please. We cannot do this. We are on matters raised under Standing Order 32-----
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This is a hugely important issue. I appeal to the Taoiseach to avail of the opportunity-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----and it is not envisaged that other Members can join in and participate and make Second Stage contributions.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am asking the Taoiseach whether he would-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have advised the Deputy to submit the matter for the Adjournment debate.
Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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To do so is only a waste of time.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I do not accept the Ceann Comhairle's suggestion.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle-----
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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To be of assistance in the matter, rather than go down the road-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Stagg, I have called Deputy McGrath on a point of order.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Providing me and the Minister with five minutes to debate the issue of cystic fibrosis at St. Vincent's Hospital is not adequate. I am asking that the House facilitate a two hour debate on this issue any time during the next four or five days. We have the option of debating this during Friday and late night sittings, which is the sensible solution. Families need support and we need to know exactly what is going on.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made his point.
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Different stories are being told. Ministers are saying one thing and officials are saying another. The bottom line is that patients are suffering; that is the reality.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has had a good innings on the issue this morning. I call Deputy Stagg on a point of order.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Rather than dealing with this matter under Standing Order 32, perhaps the Government will consider the possiblity of providing time for a two hour or hour and a half debate on the issue in the House. The Whips can consider how it will be fitted into the schedule.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, the House is sitting tonight until 10 p.m. and could perhaps meet for an extra hour to hear statements on this issue. The House is sitting late and an extra hour will not make that much of a difference. Staff will be here late either way. The Minister for Health and Children should be asked to make a statement to the House at 10 p.m. tonight.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must advise the Deputy that the Whips have spoken in the House already.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am entitled to the same courtesy in this House.
Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is a reasonable request.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is being given the same courtesy.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach wants to speak.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle is cutting across me.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am not cutting across the Deputy.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle is cutting across me.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have allowed debate on the issue. I am advising the Deputy to raise the matter with the other Whips.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, the Taoiseach wants to answer.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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A Cheann Comhairle, the Taoiseach wants to respond.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have advised the Deputy to raise the matter at the Whips' meeting. I am sure-----
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will try to be of assistance in this matter. I am aware of the attention given by Deputy McGrath and other Deputies to this matter. As Minister for Health and Children I was involved in ensuring the commencement of training for heart and lung transplants for cystic fibrosis sufferers. I am aware of the situation. I believe a great deal of work has been done in relation to this matter in recent times and that the Minister for Health and Children has been foremost in this regard. I believe also there are prospects in regard to this issue from which greater clarity will emerge. By way of assistance I, or the Tánaiste if I am not in the House, will try tomorrow to provide clarity in terms of where we are at on this issue.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste will come to the House tomorrow to explain on the Order of Business where things are at. This may be of some assistance.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That is fair enough.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will move on now to the Order of Business.