I thank the Tánaiste for that answer. I refer to the part of the proposals for new EU-wide taxes to cover the cost of servicing the borrowing, including a potential plastics tax, a digital tax on large tech multinationals, a tax on carbon-intensive industrial imports and levying larger companies which benefit from the Single Market. What is the view of the Government on those proposed taxes to fund what is envisaged?

Does the Tánaiste believe the €750 billion package is sufficient? State aid rules are being suspended with about €2 trillion going in from governments in state aid, and half of that - €1 trillion - going in from the German Government. This entire €750 billion spread across the EU would be less than the state aid by one country, Germany. Does the Tánaiste have concerns about how that affects economically weaker countries in the EU? In the Irish case compared with the €1 trillion in state aid that Germany is putting …

I would like to share time with Deputy Holly Cairns. I will take six minutes and she will take four. I have two questions for the Minister of State. There will be ample time for him to respond. I want to look at changes in construction output due to Covid-19 and how this will affect the delivery of social housing by local authorities. Private sector construction is projected to decrease quite severely as a result of Covid-19. More than 70% of new social housing builds in 2019 was bought from the private sector by t…

I thank the Minister of State. He is correct that it is different in different parts of the country. It is of particular concern that in Dublin the amount of new build social housing units built directly by the local authority is very low. In 2019 only 45 newly built housing units were directly provided by Dublin City Council. About half of those were Priory Hall units that had been brought up to standard. It is very concerning. It relates to the Minister of State's comments earlier about homelessness services and …

I am quite surprised that the Tánaiste has welcomed the fact that the UK has stated it will respect all its legal undertakings under the withdrawal agreement. It is a sign of how serious this has become that we are in the position of welcoming something that should be a given. It should be an absolute given when entering an agreement that people will respect the legal undertakings. What is occurring is a sign of the difficult situation in which we find ourselves. Previous speakers alluded to this matter. With respe…

In respect of the level playing field, the Tánaiste said it does not matter what it is called, that it is the substance that matters and that it may be an issue of different language around it. This misunderstands what Brexit is fundamentally about for the people who supported it. Effectively, it is a strategy to undercut European Union standards and conditions in terms of climate and workers' rights. It is an attempt to get access to European Union markets as a free ride without the responsibilities that come with…

In the current circumstances, when we look at all the pressures on housing, including the issue of homeless people being at a higher risk and the problems with mortgage arrears and the private rented sector, I do not think we could have more clarity that we need to develop strongly alternative models to housing provision beyond the private and for-profit sector. That is why it is critical that we use State land and publicly-owned land only for public housing, be it affordable purchase, cost rental or social housing…

With regard to overcrowded accommodation in the private rental sector, it is a particular area that will need more focus. With regard to homeless people, I am not just talking about rough sleepers but also about people who, despite supports and services being put in place currently, are spending a lot of their time, for whatever reason, on the streets and people who are being advised to cocoon but are not always doing so. Currently, they are at less of a risk because there are fewer people to come into contact with…

I want to raise several points. As Deputy Shortall said, we effectively have the introduction of a two-tier social welfare system. While these measures are very welcome, we need to look long-term at what we can do to ensure sufficient income protection, not just at this time of crisis, but recognising that every time people lose their work is a time of crisis for them. Given the social and economic advantages of having proper income protection in place at that point, there are strong arguments for this. I bring Mem…

In éigeandáil mar seo, tá orainn oibriú go han-dian chun daoine leochaileacha a chosaint. We must do everything we can to protect those most vulnerable during this crisis, especially those who have been working in precarious conditions and renting precariously. Many people who have lost their jobs and income now face huge uncertainty in their rented accommodation. These workers often live paycheck to paycheck with little or no savings to cushion a sudden drop in income. This Bill will go some way to addressing thei…

It is in a time of crisis that society realises just how crucial a role people working on the front line, including in the Defence Forces, play. I take this opportunity to extend the Social Democrats' strong support and solidarity with all those working on the front line, including in the Defence Forces but also the public health officials, GPs, pharmacists, nurses, doctors, shop workers, gardaí, paramedics, firefighters, transport workers, delivery drivers and cleaners, all those working to keep the healthcare sys…

I see no reason there should be any issue with these amendments, which are in the context of what regard the Minister should have when making a decision on the Christmas period. The issue of public consultation is very important. With the strategic housing development, SHD, process in particular, there is the provision for municipal committees or area committees to have an input. If they are not meeting, that obviously affects the SHD legislation. Likewise, if we are in a period where larger planning applications c…

I will address amendment No. 18. There needs to be some level of protection for people who are effectively living as licensees in owner-occupied homes. This is a very modest and balanced proposal for 28 days' notice to quit.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 8, to delete lines 16 to 18.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 9, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “(7) During the duration of the emergency period licensees in owner occupied homes shall be entitled to a notice to quit period of at least 28 days.”.

Amendment No. 21 seeks to give families and renters a breathing space of three months at the end of the emergency period. I think that is a sensible measure to make things a bit easier on people.

Ós rud é gurb í seo mo chéad uair ag caint sa Dáil, ba mhaith liom i dtús báire an deis a thapú mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le pobal Chuan Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh a chur anseo mé. Oibreoidh mé go crua mar ghlór ar son na fírinne agus ar son cearta sóisialta. Ba mhaith liom freisin thar ceann an phobail buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leis an iar-Theachta, Tommy Broughan, a chaith na blianta fada ag troid ar son leas an phobail. I commend all the healthcare staff, everyone in the HSE, all the public health officials and …