The Waterford to Cahir and Cahir to Limerick Junction proposals are going forward. Will the Taoiseach commit that this strategic corridor will remain part of the NDP?

Has the co-ordination committee discussed antigen testing at all? The reason I specifically ask is this co-ordination committee co-ordinates things, I presume. It seems there is quite a divided and confused approach across the public service regarding antigen tests. As the Taoiseach knows, I have been raising this issue since last October, when we were still in Leinster House - it is so long ago. I know the issues with antigen testing but I also know the positives around it as part of a mix. After Christmas, the De…

I will ask about two priorities for this unit. A motion from my Labour Party colleague, inner-city Councillor Kevin Donoghue, was passed by Dublin City Council last night. It was a very interesting motion on something we have been pushing to have considered for some time. It called on Dublin City Council's chief executive to engage with trade unions representing council staff with a view to piloting and introducing a four-day working week. Will the social dialogue unit seriously look at this? We have learned much f…

It certainly would not suit us.

Is it something the Taoiseach would consider and this unit will look into? That is what I am asking. Does the Taoiseach endorse it? We all have to rebalance our lives after the pandemic. The second issue, which I do not have time to dwell on, is that of a catch-up programme for schools. My colleagues, Deputy Ó Ríordáin and Senator Bacik, have been pushing this for some time. A significant amount of funding is going towards this in Britain and other countries. Will there be a catch-up programme for schoolchildren, g…

On the decision made by Government this week in regard to the Covid restrictions and where we are going, the manner in which it happened was embarrassing. I know what it is like to be in government. I have been on both sides of the fence in this House. I know issues arise, but on behalf of the Irish people what happened was embarrassing. It was chaos and it was unacceptable. Ministers at Cabinet either did not understand what was in front of them or they were misled. It was one or the other. They are saying quite f…

I thank the Tánaiste for being so frank with me. I am delighted the Tánaiste is taking on board basically everything I have said. I appreciate that but I would ask him to do one more thing. It relates to young people. The Tánaiste will know that there was an Economic and Social Research Institution, ESRI, report showing that the impact of this on young people over the last couple of years has been disproportionate. Economically, they are poorer than any younger generation for decades. Whatever we proceed with, we a…

We are not at all.

I will ask about antigen testing in more detail. The chief scientific officer, Professor Mark Ferguson, did the report. It was never implemented because of issues in relation to NPHET. He suggested serial testing was very effective in respect of opening up society, particularly for travel, but obviously, we are now dealing with issues relating to hospitality and other industries. According to the Minister for Health, there is now another expert rapid test group, as it is called, to be headed up by the very eminent …

What about hospitality?

I understand the Taoiseach had a very difficult decision to make this week with the Cabinet but I cannot understand why he did not set out as parameters for NPHET that it had to be based on EU law and could not be discriminatory. Two months ago, Deputy O'Dea asked the Tánaiste that we would not engage in apartheid with regard to a vaccine pass. On 22 February, the Taoiseach said we will always bring people with us. This is a move away from that. What the Taoiseach is doing is discriminating, particularly against 20…

Surely it has to adhere to European law. Advocating for travel------

To say that people should not travel but legally they can travel is ridiculous

It does not. Non-discriminatory and European law is not new.

Yes. Unlike others, I will answer.

Administer the Janssen one-shot vaccine in pharmacies. Line up the 18 to 29-year-olds.

I wish to raise the digital green certificate which is due to go live tomorrow, as planned, with 20 EU member states already issuing certificates and talks with the UK progressing. What is the status of the talks with the UK? That would be good information for the House. We are due to go live on 19 July. Can the Taoiseach confirm if this is still the case? Yesterday, NPHET recommended that unvaccinated people should not travel, even with a clear test. Obviously, we are not taking action on that because it would be …

The Taoiseach should be here today instead of at a press conference, given the decisions being made and the impact on our country. The Cabinet decision announced earlier on reopening businesses is absolutely bananas. It is discriminatory and it is unenforceable. It is shocking stuff. It is amateur hour. When did Government discrimination become the norm in Ireland? I would like the Minister to answer that. The Government is saying to young people today that we are all in this together except when it gets to a stage…

He is accountable to this Dáil first and foremost, according to the Constitution.

That is not what the Taoiseach said in his press conference. I live in Portroe, where there is a little village called Garrykennedy. Roy Breen and Maura Boyle run the two hospitality establishments there. If the Minister thinks that what the Government is putting forward is enforceable in any of these types of hospitality premises, it is not. It is just not enforceable. It is discrimination. It is complete discrimination. I am telling the Minister right now that the reaction from people who are under the age of 30 …