The next slot is that of Solidarity–People Before Profit. Deputy Gino Kenny has ten minutes.

Iarraim ar an Aire a ráiteas oscailte a thabhairt dúinn ar dtús. Tá deich nóiméad aige.

Níl mé sa phost ach ar feadh tamaillín bhig.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Anois, casaimid ar cheisteanna agus freagraí le críoch a bheith curtha le ráiteas an Aire. We turn now to questions, answers and statements. The first party to speak is Fianna Fáil which has 15 minutes. I call Deputy Thomas Byrne. An bhfuil an Teachta ag roinnt a chuid ama?

Níl mé ann ach mar Chathaoirleach.

An bhfuil an Teachta Ó Laoghaire ag roinnt ama?

Ba chóir don Aire ligean don Teachta ceist a chur.

The Sinn Féin slot is over. Má tá ceisteanna sa bhreis curtha ag baill d'aon pháirtí, b'fhéidir go bhféachfaidh an tAire orthu agus freagra a thabhairt i scríbhinn.

I am asking if the Minister could give an answer in writing to the questions he was not able to reach, and he has agreed. I call Deputy Dillon, who is making his maiden speech.

Yes: na Teachtaí Mark Ward agus Sorca Clarke. Tógfaidh mé ceithre nóiméad i dtús báire agus ansin tá súil agam go mbeidh freagraí againn ón Aire Stáit. Ba mhaith liomsa, cosúil leis na Teachtaí a chuaigh romham, mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le fir agus mná na bhFórsaí Cosanta as a ndíograis agus as an slí ina bhfuil siad tar éis tabhairt faoi na tascanna agus na dualgais atá curtha rompu go dtí seo, in ainneoin na gconstaicí atá orthu agus in ainneoin an slí ina bhfuil an Stát tar éis caitheamh leo le blianta anuas. I a…

I received a communication from an Irish citizen who is living in Lanzarote. It is reflective of many Irish citizens in that area but also, I am told, of other Irish and EU citizens living in other parts of the EU. I will cite extracts from the letter, with the writer's permission: My name is Joe Bracken. I am a 56 year old musician living on the island of Lanzarote. I am also an ex soldier, having served at home and abroad. As you may or may not be aware, we are currently in the 10th week of lockdown. [This was tw…

The question is if the Minister will raise the matter directly with the Spanish Government at European Council level in order to ensure that citizens of EU countries are protected from destitution within the EU, in this case in Lanzarote. They want to stay there, they are Irish citizens and they are made destitute by the Spanish Government, which has not lived up to its promises.

I will pass the information on. The problem is not specific to that man alone. Many others have contacted me about this matter. He has been in contact with the Irish Embassy and it cut and pasted advice to him concurrent with what the Spanish authorities have already promised but have not delivered. The problem is that 12 weeks later, he and his wife combined have received a sum of €129. Others have received nothing. They are Irish citizens who are living off whatever savings they have and who are not in receipt of…

Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama le Teachta Clarke, Teachta Carthy agus Teachta Stanley. I agree with the previous speaker and other speakers that there is a silver lining to Covid in terms of the thriving wildlife that we are seeing. However, this is a temporary reprieve. The rejuvenation that we have seen will only be a temporary reprieve unless we put in place protections to ensure that it continues. It is a big challenge for us to do that in the time that we have before industry, commerce, agriculture and life in ge…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Beidh mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis na Teachtaí Donnelly agus Andrews. I dtús báire ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le foireann na Ranna a thug seisiún eolais domsa agus do mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Fintan Warfield, inné. Tá sé rí-thábhachtach a bheith anseo agus muid ag déileáil le ceist na n-ealaíon agus an tionchar atá ag an ngalar Covid-19 ar an earnáil seo, dár saol agus an geilleagar sin á phlé againn. Conas atá ár n-ealaíontóirí agus iad siúd a oibríonn…

I raised a point at the Business Committee concerning the report by Seán Guerin SC. I do not have a problem with the court judgment regarding this report. People might recall that this judgment was a vindication of the former Deputy, Alan Shatter, and parts of the report were questioned by Mr. Justice Donal O'Donnell. What is being suggested here is a brand new procedure that has never happened before. The Business Committee has not had legal advice and there does not seem to be any justification or reason why we a…

Níl. Vótáil.

In relation to today’s business, it is proposed that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the only business to be taken shall be the business as set out in the Report of the Business Committee dated 21 April 2020, with no Questions on Promised Legislation; between each item of business, the House shall suspend for a period not exceeding five minutes; No. 4, statements and questions and answers on Covid-19 to the Taoiseach, shall not exceed 100 minutes, with each party or group having ten minutes; No. 5, st…

I wish to make a point. All parties were instructed to have two Members in the Chamber at a time. We could all come in here with our full membership and ask questions in the seven minutes. I will not delay proceedings but for the next time that we meet, I ask other parties, given the predicament we are in, that only two members of each party partake in each session. They should then step out for the next session.

This is the announcement of the proposed arrangements for this week's business - an gnó atá leagtha síos i dtuairisc an Choiste Gnó dar dáta an 24 Márta 2020 os ár gcomhair. In relation to today's business, it is proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.03 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020. Notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the only business to be taken shall be the business as set out in the report of the Business Committe…