There is a cross-departmental aspect to all this, notwithstanding the extraordinarily generous grants administered by the Minister of State's Department in the form of the sports capital programme and the impact that that can have on communities up and down the country. We know, and the Minister of State, being from a very fast-growing young community just like mine, will know too, that the facilities that are provided to young people, particularly young girls, for participation in sport are incredibly important. T…

My question relates to the implementation of the night-time economy support scheme, which I know has been pushed through the Minister of State's Department.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is important that the State and his Department promote alternative activities at night. We have a solid night-time culture in Ireland, but it mostly revolves around alcohol and pubs. There are many other things we are absolutely excellent at and it is very important that funding streams go towards the promotion of music, comedy, literature and, as the Minister of State mentioned, art and photography, among other things. We have an extraordinary story to tell in tow…

This is a cross-government issue because, as the Minister of State will appreciate, it crosses different doors in Government Buildings. The promotion of alternative events and so on comes down to venues. There is a role for local authorities to play in the delivery of such spaces, whether indoors or outdoors. We all know, given our change in approach to expenditure in the Department of Transport, that we are spending at a ratio of 2:1 in the provision of public transport. Within that includes the pedestrianisation …

This is the usual bluster.

The times are four, three and three. They do not fill the slot. Deputy Clarke might wish to speak.

I thank Deputy Durkan for tabling the question. Notwithstanding the Minister's response - the narrowing of the gap is very welcome - we are subject to competition in Ireland and that has been our biggest issue because we are such a small country. There has been much talk about banking union, which would have an impact upon the sort of products Deputy Durkan referred to in his question, but also for insurance and assurance. Probably one of the biggest issues at the moment, of which I am sure the Minister is only too…

I thank the Minister for his response and the reassurance that the capital acquisitions tax will not rise in the budget. I cannot better what Deputy Carroll MacNeill has had to say in terms of the position that a relatively small number of people in the State find themselves. Having paid extortionate interest rates in the 1980s and high taxation, among other concerns, they want to support the future of their children when they pass. I am not a fan or a supporter of this sort of taxation but I recognise it makes a v…

I thank the Minister for his response. A very fortunate several hundred thousand people got to stay home on what was a wet and horrible morning while more than 2 million people got into their cars or on trains, bicycles or otherwise to go to work, school or third-level institutions. As other Members said, this is about harnessing what Covid-19 brought us, which I believe to be of benefit, that is, the huge number of people who stayed at home and reduced their transport costs, reduced congestion and reduced their ca…

I agree entirely with Deputy Moynihan, and I support the Minister's comment that the Government does not necessarily have to be the first to move. As we all know, employers are responsible for ensuring their staff who happen to be working from home have suitable seating, among other things, which is important. The employers, therefore, play a role. I fully appreciate what the Minister is referencing and it is important that this message goes out. That said, certain issues will impact on employers, as other speakers…

Like Deputy Berry, I will refer to the incident in Cherry Orchard this week, which the Commissioner has described as "disgraceful" and in which two female gardaí were subjected to a horrifying ordeal when their car was rammed. Gardaí have questioned the deterrents available. It is appropriate to mention that Deputy Griffin proposed a Bill to deal with and specifically address this issue seven years ago. The Garda has stated that investment in equipment, including bodycams, better driver training and stronger vehicl…

I am scheduled to share my time, so if my colleague shows up, I will yield to her. I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this Bill. I know the Minister, the Department, the committee and a great many others have put a huge amount of work into it. I commend everyone on their significant work on this extremely important Bill which has been long called for and is even more important today than it was when it was originally proposed. The creation of a new regulatory body that will implement, enforce and update rul…

Allow the Deputy to speak without interruption.

Before I call the proposer, I wish to say that, on Report Stage, it is appropriate for all Members to adhere to the subject matter of the amendment. I gave a great deal of leeway in that round. It will not be so in the next one.

Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, and 8 are related and may be discussed together.

I remind Members that there are just short of 13 minutes left before I have to draw a conclusion to this debate.

Those amendments were withdrawn.

I call Deputy O'Donoghue to speak on the amendment if possible, please. I would appreciate it.

Go back to the amendment, please.

Go back to the amendment.