I call Deputy Paul McAuliffe. Is the Deputy sharing time?

I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate. I pay tribute to the staff, as I always do when I speak on this topic, because the Department of Social Protection has excelled in providing services, and I want to say that publicly. There were points in the Minister's speech that lie outside the legislation, such as the Christmas bonus, the earnings disregard for disability allowance and the increase in the fuel allowance, and I will come back to some of those shortly. I welcome some of the positive things t…

They are contributors to the economy. Their skills can be used in so many ways and we greatly need them in so many areas in our country, from teaching to helping out in different spheres. They are not a burden. They are active contributors. On the one hand, we look on them as a burden and during Covid we told them to stay behind closed doors, yet we utterly ignored those over 66 who were working in a very rude way. The ESRI quarterly economic commentary in the summer estimated 65,000 people above the age of 66 - th…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, line 5, to delete “June 2021” and substitute “January 2021”. I am sure the Minister is open to looking at paying the carer's grant sooner than June, if that is possible. I ask for the Minister's opinion on that.

I thank the Minister. As to her final comments, I would not agree with her in the sense that I fully trust the carers to decide when and how they get the money and how they should spend it, whether in respect of Christmas or otherwise. I take the point that she is making, which is that she will engage and is open to changing it. On that basis, I will not press the amendment.

As Deputy Fergus O'Dowd is not present, I call Deputy Murnane O'Connor.

During Leaders' Questions a few weeks ago, I raised the judgment given on 31 July, which set at naught the policy of the Government on trawlers over a certain length fishing in the six mile waters. The Taoiseach was to get back to me about that and nothing has happened. I do not know if the Government has appealed that decision. If it has not, what steps are being taken? As we speak, the trawlers are in Galway Bay, taking sprat. An important part of the policy was a transition phase for sprat to phase out the fishi…

I thank the Taoiseach, but we are eating into the time for the next series of questions. We have just under 15 minutes left and there will be six Deputies contributing on the next group.

I ask each speaker to keep to the time because there will only be a minute left for the Taoiseach to respond.

The Taoiseach has just two and a half minutes to respond to all the Deputies.

I am sorry but we are well over time.

Táimid ag bogadh ar aghaidh go dtí an Rural Independent Group with Deputies Mattie McGrath and Richard O’Donoghue, sharing.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Táim ag bogadh ar aghaidh go dtí an Grúpa Neamhspleách agus an Teachta Pringle.

The Deputy has just under one minute.

How much time does the Deputy have left?

We are working as best we can with the clock.

The Deputy is definitely over time now. I found the stopwatch.

I welcome the Bill. Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as ucht an mBille seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Táim sásta nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur ina choinne. Is maith an rud é sin agus is céim chun cinn dearfach í. Áfach, seo an dara huair laistigh de thrí seachtaine go bhfuilimid ag caint faoi fhoréigean baile. Cuireann sé olc orm go bhfuilimid fós ag caint faoi gan beart a dhéanamh agus gan dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo. Ag eascair as an bhfadhb seo, tá impleachtaí tromchúiseacha do na mná, do na páistí, do na clai…

Excuse me. The Minister is over time. I do not wish to interrupt but I am trying to ensure that every Deputy gets in.

Thank you, Minister.