I know that.

It is happening now.

It is not transparent.

Perhaps the Taoiseach will answer the other question I asked.

That was done through an agency, CPL, not directly by the HSE.

When did the Minister know?

I want to raise a sensitive issue with the Taoiseach. Some people believe that during a pandemic or a crisis, there are times when they push on with other things because they will not get enough notice. On 2 September, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, met online with the 221+ group regarding the CervicalCheck tribunal. The group expressed all of its concerns and said it was a positive meeting. The Minister has issued a letter to the group in the last 24 hours in which he says he is going ahead with the tri…

By ignoring the matter.

They are the same issues that were there in September.

I welcome the fact that a strategy has been announced and that the Taoiseach took on board a number of the proposals the Labour Party put forward last week. We were very clear on where we thought the country needed to go, unlike some others. In regard to what was announced, we are not going to magically wake up on 1 December and see what has been delivered. We need metrics and measurements. We need the Taoiseach to say to the public what we need to achieve, what will happen if we achieve the specified measurements …

I appreciate what the Taoiseach is saying. I believe the Government needs to simplify this, particularly if it is to bring in new regulations for An Garda Síochána, so I urge the Taoiseach to consider that. I also wish to ask the Taoiseach a question about something I revealed yesterday. We have 200 fewer full-time nurses in the HSE than we did in December, which is incredible. How in the name of God did that happen? We have 1,800 temporary contract nurses more than we had. I am following what the Minister, Deputy …

The figures came in an answer to a parliamentary question. They are HSE figures.

It has been a very difficult 24 hours for the nation but it has been an even more difficult last few hours for Cork city, as I am sure the Taoiseach will agree. The businesses based in the lower mall, Oliver Plunkett Street and around that area, which the Taoiseach is aware is an area I know very well, face into devastation from flooding. I read his statement in which he said humanitarian and business schemes will be available to all of the businesses and residents living there. How much will be available to those …

How much will be available?

What is the timeline for it?

The work programme of NESC does not cover any issues around the educational system, which is a glaring omission as far as I am concerned. We all know the Minister for Education and Skills also does not sit at the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19. To make progress, economically and socially, we need to manage and monitor all our developments in education and how they will interact. I will raise with the Taoiseach an issue that has become topical as a result of what schools have been saying in recent times. We will …

When the residential tenancies legislation went through the Seanad last July, we proposed a very clear enabling amendment that the Government and the Minister opposed. It would have possibly avoided the need for us to sit this week because it gave power to the Minister to reintroduce a ban on evictions. It was an either-or. It did not force him; it just gave him the power to do so if there was a second wave. In fairness, some of the Taoiseach's colleagues in government in the Green Party supported the amendment or …

I too wish John the very best on his retirement. I hope there will be a day when I will meet him once more at the Kilmacud sevens, when Portroe wins it once more. I wish to raise the issue of rapid testing. I raised the issue of masks versus visors before and, in fairness, the Taoiseach last night outlined how there is now going to be a communication strategy as to why visors are, effectively, a waste of time compared face masks. What is the Government's strategy as regards rapid testing? I hold in my hand a rapid …

I said the HPSC.

Yesterday was a truly historic occasion. It was the first budget announced outside of this House and the largest budget in the history of the State. It was also, however, a missed opportunity to make the most of a crisis. We have often heard that phrase used. I refer to using the great deal of funding available to the Government to transform Ireland. The Government has borrowed a huge amount of money, but there will not be major change for real people watching this debate. I welcome many aspects of this budget, and…