I thank the Tánaiste. This is a very important issue for us. Last December we lost the chairperson of our youth wing, Mr. Cormac Ó Braonáin. He was an amazing young man whose many talents had a huge impact on all of us in the Labour Party and further afield. His number one political objective was to ensure that children born to people not from this State or without citizenship would have this pathway. We all know the way our country has dealt with direct provision. We all know that there are children in direct prov…

A Cheann Comhairle, I apologise if my language is going to be slightly unparliamentary, but the Tánaiste is also the Minister with responsibility for business and it is time ComReg got its finger out as regards the customer service being provided by communications companies. Every Member of the House has had so many complaints that even you, a Cheann Comhairle, intervened during the week. Clearly, ComReg is not doing its job. Does it have the powers? Has the Minister spoken to it in depth about it? The real issue i…

I was one of the few who was not.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide employees working remotely with a right to switch off from out of working hours work-related electronic communications, to disapply subject to conditions certain provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in the case of certain employees working temporarily from home, and to provide for related matters. We launched this campaign already, so I think we are ahead of the curve. The Tánaiste has already spoken on this issue …

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

We obviously had good news regarding a Covid-19 vaccine in the past week from Pfizer and BioNTech who say they have a vaccine that will be 90% effective. Given the issues relating to storage, this may or may not be the vaccine that will be rolled out in the coming months. I understand that others will be coming on stream pretty quickly too, which will be fantastic. We cannot allow this to result in any form of complacency as to how we deal with Covid-19. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree and perhaps next week we c…

In regard to the flu vaccine, I have in my hand the form that must be filled in at the GP's office. The requirement to do so means that people are spending longer in there. What is happening is that GPs are putting the forms through in bulk. The figures quoted in the press today reflect the fact that they do not complete the forms and put them through straight away because they do not have time to do so. GPs are overworked, as we know, at this time. The other issue the Taoiseach needs to be conscious of is the ques…

Why is it not done electronically?

While I have been in the Chamber for the past 40 minutes or so, someone the Taoiseach knows well, John Wall, has been in touch to say he has rejected the Government's proposals in respect of the terminal illness card. The proposals in the long term as regards finance, communication and other matters are quite laudable and I welcome and endorse them. However, this does not do anything for those who are facing into a terminal illness in the short term. It does not guarantee cards. I want to read a quote of what he sa…

I am asking the Taoiseach one last time before publication of the report of the clinical advisory group which, by the way, does not determine this.

It is only giving clinical advice. Will the Taoiseach please just do what is right and extend the time limit from one year to 24 months.

The Taoiseach has the power to do it under the Health Act 1970. Please just do so.

I note that the Chief Medical Officer's comments on the use of face masks, as opposed to visors, endorse mine. I would appreciate it if a communication strategy could be circulated in that regard. I do not expect the Taoiseach to be able to tell us today what is going to happen in December but I would appreciate it if he could give us an indicative date as to when he will be able to announce what is planned for the period from 1 December onwards. Will it be a week beforehand or three days? I am seeking a date; I do…

I am quite conscious of what the Ceann Comhairle said earlier regarding the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Woulfe but this is an issue for all of us, in government and in opposition. It is not an Opposition-versus-Government issue. I welcome the Taoiseach's decision to meet party and group leaders but, having read the letters, I am going to make a request of him in advance of the meeting. It is quite obvious that there is other correspondence between the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Woulfe and that we have only par…

I asked about a request through the Attorney General.

We are now going into our third week in level 5 and many people are trying to plan for the unique period around Christmas, which is not something we have experienced before. While the R level is coming down and the numbers are changing, I do not expect the Tánaiste to be in a position today to be able to advise businesses, workers or families as regards what we will be able to do on 1 December when level 5 ends. At this juncture, can he give us an indication on what date the Government will be in a position to give…

I thank the Taoiseach for making that statement and for advising Members of it in advance. It is very appropriate. This is not the first time we have been here, but I acknowledge the fact that it absolutely needed to be done today. I offer my solidarity and that of my party to Damien and Patricia for what has happened to them and their family. They should never have gone through this. All Deputies know that. We must learn from these events, but I worry that we are not learning from them. My good friend, Vicky Phela…

There is no doubt that the political landscape today will be dominated by this issue relating to the Tánaiste. It is a very significant issue. Given the large-scale problems in this country including Covid, job losses, the CervicalCheck tribunal, which I have referenced, and a range of others, that is not good. This issue needs to be dealt with quickly. The public is now drawn back to the time of golden circles, the Galway tent, friends in high places and so on. We had thought we had moved on. We in the Labour Part…

There are a number of members of this Government who were members of the previous Government. Has the Taoiseach spoken to the other members of the Government on this matter to see if any pressure was put on them to provide this contract, which the IMO indicated would only be provided to its members? Was pressure put on anybody in the Government and who is now sitting with the Taoiseach in government to provide this contract to the NAGP? Has the Taoiseach asked that question? There are members of the previous Govern…

I am not suggesting that.