I welcome the opportunity to speak on the roadmap. I will start simply by echoing the statements of other Members on the direction of the roadmap regarding businesses closing, reopening and then closing again and the long-term consequences not only for our economy but also for those who work in the businesses and industries that have been devastated over recent months. As we know and have accepted at this stage, we will be living with Covid for well in excess of 12 months, if not more. Even if a vaccination or feas…

I welcome this debate. As we are all acutely aware, 2020 has presented a monumental challenge for our health services. We have demanded huge sacrifices from our nurses, doctors, paramedics and all of the staff who keep our hospitals and all medical facilities running safely every day. This winter, unfortunately, promises to present even more challenges for our health infrastructure and front-line staff. It is imperative that we prepare in the right way to ensure we have the ability and capability to deal effectivel…

I commend Deputy Gino Kenny on bringing this Bill before the House. I appreciate the comments of Members so far and the Minister's response. A decision on whether to change the law and on how best this can be done if there is a decision to change it, cannot and should not be rushed. I am glad the Minister referred to the significant societal changes that have happened in the past and that were finalised in this House. They were not instigated here, but in kitchens, living rooms and coffee shops around the country. …

Deputy Kenny, I understand you are ceding four minutes of your concluding statement.

That is fine. I call Deputy Fitzpatrick.

I am sorry to interrupt you, Deputy Fitzpatrick, but are you sharing the four minutes? Deputy Tóibín should resume his seat.

Okay. Two more minutes on the clock, please.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 7 October 2020.

I thank Deputy MacSharry for yielding. I congratulate the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, on her appointment and wish her all the best in her role. I welcome the Bill, which remedies a problem in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but also assists us in achieving not just targets we have set in the programme for Government but also in regard to afforestation. While the State has been a little late in its response, the Minister of State and the Department have been very responsive in setting abou…

The Minister without interruption, please.

I thank the Minister, but we are over time.

Minister, we are over time.

The Minister's time is up.

I ask the Minister to conclude.

The Deputy is coming close to the end of her time.

I thank the Deputy for his timing. I call Deputy Patricia Ryan, who has five minutes.

I welcome this debate. I thank the Minister for being present throughout all three and a half hours of this debate, a portion of which I chaired. It has been very enlightening to listen to Members on all sides of the House talking about the importance of this issue. I am very fortunate to have been appointed to the committee which will look at the forthcoming Bill which is being worked on. I very much welcome the remarks of the incoming Chairman of the committee, Deputy Leddin, particularly his reference to the nee…

There are two minutes left on the clock.

I will take that time.

That is quite all right. I thank Deputy O'Donnell for sharing his time. I want to address two matters that I think NPHET, the Minister for Health and the public should be considering about the current phase of where we are with Covid-19. These issues have raised their heads since the schools reopened, as businesses are opening more prevalently and more people are in our towns, villages and cities. I strongly urge the public to wear masks outside schools. I have dropped my children to school on a number of occasions…