Does the Minister of State have any idea of what percentage of that €108 million loss, or, say, €10 million per month, might be made good?

Did the Minister say "agreements between us?"

Those of us who were involved in economic management during the last crisis hoped and indeed believed that we had entered now into a different time, a time of unprecedented opportunities to transform Ireland for the better. A few short months ago, nobody could have envisaged the impact Covid-19 would have, not only on Ireland but on the world. This is a different crisis, a unique and unprecedented crisis, but there are lessons we can learn from the last one. The first lesson I want to address is on the issue of EU …

I have a number more.

Lots of it consists of grants.

What is the Minister's preference?

I agree fundamentally with the Minister regarding a different landscape obtaining now. Sometimes I hear commentary, even in this House and even today, about people choosing austerity, as if anybody picked austerity when there was no other option because there was no other money available to us. We are in a different landscape now and I hope we can have that sense of solidarity that will allow us to make the necessary decisions. I would like to put several questions to the Minister, but I will focus on one final thi…

Most of us were taken by surprise when we saw this on the Order Paper to be taken without debate. Those of us who lived through the period when this report was commissioned and so on understand how fraught an era that was. It would be useful to have a more considered period before the report is withdrawn. Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle could inform the House, from a procedural point of view, how a report that has been formally laid before the House can be unlaid. One lawyer has suggested that one can no more unlay a r…

Might we agree to have this matter deferred to another day?

I welcome the Minister. This unprecedented pandemic has stood much of our thinking on transport on its head. Three months ago, a single occupied vehicle in this city would have been frowned upon and, in fact, actively discouraged. Our investment in transport was to be concentrated on mass transport systems, transporting as many people as possible, as closely and densely packed as possible. How permanent this new attitude will be remains to be seen, but I do not think, and the Minister has said so himself, that thin…

Will the Minister give them the money?

I thank the Minister. I need time to ask my questions, if I may.

I would like succinct actual answers. I asked about money, not about generalisms and assurances. My second question-----

I am afraid I only have very limited time.

He might skip the preamble when responding to my next question. I refer to the plan for getting students to school. A number of parents and community groups have contacted me about rural transport, including the operators of school transport. The Department of Education and Skills will provide 50% of contract costs to the private operators from 29 March. In terms of ensuring that schools can reopen in September, will there be a comprehensive school transport system because within weeks, the normal allocation of tic…

The problem is that capacity will be vastly diminished if there is social distancing in the rural transport system. Who is going to provide the extra vehicles? Who is going to cover the cost of running larger vehicles with reduced capacity? That is going to be much more expensive. My third question relates to getting goods and services to market. Will there be a quarantine on people coming into our ports once we open? Has the Minister discussed that with Cabinet colleagues? Many countries are going to operate a qua…

I have one brief question. While the car insurance refund is a finance matter, it comes under legislation which is under the Minister's purview. When will those who have paid car insurance and whose cars are now off the road or in very limited use get the refund that has been promised?

The Minister for Finance promised it.

I too am glad to be back to debating Brexit. I will deal with a technical point first. I found the stakeholders forum on Brexit a very helpful and informative forum both for me and all politicians, but it is not a great idea to have both on the same day. Having statements in the House means that Members who are not Dublin based, like me, could not participate in it. I say that for future reference. If Ireland, like the rest of the world, had not been overtaken and overwhelmed by the Covid-19 crisis it is quite clea…

I also congratulate Deputy Mythen, my constituency colleague, on his maiden speech and look forward to many more such speeches in the years to come. I will confine myself to three questions initially. Hopefully, the Tánaiste will be concise in his answers to those and I will have time for two further questions. I want to further push the point regarding an extension of the negotiation period. I am certainly of the view that we are not going to have an agreement within that timeframe, although I understand the Tánai…