I ask that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, examine why Bus Éireann removed its discount to people with epilepsy for services on Bus Éireann and Expressway services. This was removed without any notice whatever. People with epilepsy can be temporarily or permanently restricted from driving. The discount, which was about 10% of fares on Bus Éireann or Expressway services, can make the difference between someone undertaking travel, including for work, or not. This move is contrary to the Oireachtas report on accessib…

I propose to share time with Senator Fiona O'Loughlin

I welcome the Minister to the Seanad and congratulate her on her new role. I have no doubt she will do an excellent job. We all know that on 12 March the country started on the path of being locked down and life as we know it has changed significantly since. The Government of the time acted very quickly, and from what I understand, the Covid-19 payment was initially a type of public health measure to encourage people to stay at home and try to curb the spread of the virus. It was an extra encouragement for a person…

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister on her appointment. She has clearly hit the ground running with this far-reaching legislation. I will be delighted to work with her over the next few years. Many of us in this House who pass through the halls of King's Inns look with bemusement at the Latin motto, "Nolumus mutari ", which means "We do not wish to change." As my colleague, Senator Martin, said, the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Frank Clarke, literally brought the Bar kicking and sc…

I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach again on his election to that position. I wish him well. It is a super privilege for him and his family. I refer to the legislation before the House today and the European Union's aid towards member states. The European Union was set up to create peace in European countries. In recent years, we have all questioned Europe's role in Ireland, and the role of the EU has been questioned in many European states. The EU putting these proposals in place across member states and offeri…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today. It is very nice to be in this House. I did not want to step in too far in case it was bad luck for the future. I am a small business owner with fewer than five employees. Before Covid we were struggling. I have a small solicitor's practice and we struggle to pay our employees' wages and our rates, rent and insurance. It is always a struggle. With Covid it is even more of a struggle. We took advantage of the wage subsidy package and we were delighted to do…

I agree with many colleagues who thanked our front-line workers, especially nurses, doctors and care workers in nursing homes and hospitals around the country. I thank our immigrant workers in particular, especially nurses and doctors, who were very much at the coalface of the Covid-19 outbreak. We have learned from academic reports that black, Asian, and minority ethnic, BAME, workers have been affected disproportionately by Covid-19, which is worrying. The former Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, recognised the…

Déanaim comhghairdeas mór leis an gCathaoirleach. Is ónóir mhór í bheith mar Chathaoirleach ar an Seanad. I wish to congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh. I have known you for a long time. There were three votes in my house for one of your first elections: my dad, my brother and my mum. I think you probably got all of the votes at that time. It is a huge honour for you. Your commitment to Fianna Fáil and its councillors across the country is remarkable. It shows the work that you have put in over the years. You have ea…

I will be brief but I wish to raise a few issues relating to the legislation we passed last week. First, I extend my condolences and those of the Fianna Fáil group to the ten families who lost loved ones yesterday, as well as to those who lost loved ones in the past week due to Covid-19 and to those in intensive care. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha. I also commend the Leader of the House on suggesting we clap front-line workers. Many of us stood outside our houses yesterday at 8 p.m. and witnessed the clapping f…

I am sharing time with Senator Clifford-Lee. I thank the Tánaiste for coming in. Fianna Fáil supports this Bill and the regulations brought in earlier in the week, especially concerning childcare. As the Tánaiste pointed out, the legislation to be passed is far-reaching and there are many sweeping measures that, at other times, we would have contemplated and scrutinised for much longer. I also thank the parliamentary drafters and the officials behind this legislation who spent hours, I presume, putting it together …

We meet in the Chamber in uncharted waters, in unprecedented times. The seating arrangements alone show the challenges that Covid-19 presents for us, as it did for the Dáil yesterday in the reduced numbers that attended the sitting. This virus will change how we live, work and play. It will change everything from now on. Yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer announced 191 more cases, with a total of 557 in the Republic. The Fianna Fáil group thinks of those who are unwell and wishes them a speedy recovery. It also e…

I hope it will be said again and again, that we must thank all our front-line workers, including our doctors, nurses, hospital cleaners and catering staff. Our Seanad colleague, Senator Devine, has re-registered as a nurse, which is commendable. Nearly 24,000 people have signed up to the HSE's volunteer call. Words cannot say how grateful we are for the selfless actions of the many who are working on the front line, many of whom have separated themselves from their families because of the risk of transmission. Thes…

I will not go through the elements of the Bill which should be improved or which I wish to highlighted. Once again, I thank front-line staff.

I intend to share some of my time with Senator Clifford-Lee. I thank the Tánaiste for coming to the House. He gave a message, which I do not think was for us but was probably for the wider public, relating to people adhering to social distancing. Yesterday, I was driving around town when I had to go to vote in the Seanad elections. I noticed that there were many people on the street talking to each other and walking side by side. I drove by a skate park in Dublin 8 which was packed with teenagers skating and chatti…