The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has stated that he will continue to liaise with the banks on liquidity for the primary sector and to ensure the availability of working capital assistance to farmers through Microfinance Ireland's Covid-19 business loan. Given existing levels of farm debt, how might that factor impact on eligibility for the Microfinance Ireland loan? For example, average farm debt increased by 10% for dairy enterprises in 2018 to €118,446, according to the Teagasc national farm surv…

Yesterday, the Minister announced changes to the temporary wage subsidy which was introduced on 26 March to provide income support to eligible employees where their employer's business activities had been negatively impacted by Covid-19. Section 28 of the relevant legislation, the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020, makes provision for the Minister for Finance to determine the amount of the temporary wage subsidy, including in respect of those earning in excess of €586 per week. It has be…

I congratulate Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl on his election as Ceann Comhairle. I wish him well in his endeavours and role. I sincerely thank the constituents of Laois-Offaly who put their faith and trust in me as an Independent candidate in the election. I understand that it is 40 years or more since we had an Independent Deputy from Laois-Offaly, so I am delighted to relive history. Whoever the new Taoiseach is, which is very uncertain at the minute, he or she has significant responsibility to tackle and challenge the…