I am sorry, Chair, but there were three questions.

I will respond to Deputy Stanton shortly.

On the second issue, the Minister is driving a great deal of changes-----

-----to make work pay and to ensure the conditions and rights of labour, backed by the Government, are made more attractive to try to attract people to work. The Deputy mentioned the hospitality sector. On one hand, there are thousands of jobs available in that sector, and we have given permits and prioritised certain areas, such as chefs and so forth. On the other hand, if one analyses the live register and the people on the PUP, there are thousands with a background in hospitality. There is a mismatch there and w…

Can I add a last comment regarding the processing of permits?

I will share the information with Deputy Ó Cuív later.

Not an hour goes by.

There was welcome news recently in the announcement by Penneys, in conjunction with the Tánaiste, that it will expand and invest a great deal of money in its Cork city premises. That was an issue about which there was grave concern. I recently met the chief executive of Cork city local authority to discuss the authority's plans for the city centre, to deal with vacancies and to make the city and county a more attractive place to win investment and to create jobs. The local authority has plans in train that we are s…

You missed your slot.

I thank Deputy Paul Murphy and his colleagues for introducing the legislation. The Government is not opposing the Bill, which seeks to amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to provide for a definition of sufficient fresh air bases on CO2 levels in the workplace as an emergency Covid-19 prevention measure. The Government supports the principle behind the Bill and it will work with all involved on it. Existing occupational safety and health legislation already creates a requirement for employers to en…

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this very important issue which allows me to focus on start-up businesses in Limerick and all other counties. It is important to discuss start-up businesses regularly and to highlight the support and encouragement that is available to them. This Government talks a lot about a jobs-led recovery but for that to happen, we need to support existing businesses to sustain existing jobs and to create more but we also need to encourage a number of start-ups to come through the system every…

I thank Senator Maria Byrne on behalf of Limerick and other counties. It is important that we have such conversations. She touched on some of the programmes that are offered through LEOs. I forgot to mention in my earlier contribution the success of the mentoring programme. It is working extremely well in Limerick too. I know there is a strong panel of mentors there and I thank them for their efforts. It is important that if entrepreneurs are thinking of starting their own business back themselves and have the conf…

I apologise to Deputy Cowen and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for being late. It was my fault as I understood I was due to respond to the second Topical Issue matter. I thank Deputy Cowen for raising this important topic, which has informed a lot of discussion lately. I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister who is unable to attend tonight and sends his apologies. Some of the issues the Deputy raised go beyond the brief I received but I will bring back the Deputy's questions and try to get the answers he seeks…

Deputy Cowen raises a fair point in what has happened previously in other markets, and he has named the financial one. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is looking closely at and is following this and I will certainly bring back to the Minister the Deputy’s concerns. It is right that we interrogate the data and try to get behind what these high prices are about as well as focusing on the importance of the security of supply. One of the issues in respect of the ESB is that a new T-4 capacity auction was held in April 2009 …

I will send a note to the Deputy with further information on this issue.

I thank both Deputies for bringing forward this Private Members' Bill. I welcome the opportunity to speak on it today. It is a shame there are not more people here to have a very focused conversation on the Bill. While I might not agree with all that is in it, conversation on this topic is essential to clarify what is in existing law, how we intend to strengthen it and how those changes compare to the Deputies' legislation. I totally accept the motives behind the Bill and I acknowledge the efforts and work that hav…

I recognise both speakers. It is not that I have anything against what is in the Bill. In most cases the provisions are in legislation already. The Deputy is saying he is disappointed I am not supporting his Bill. He might recognise that there is existing legislation in place to cover most of what he has asked. On the one area where this is not the case, I have explained why we cannot accept his proposals. When we are bringing legislation through I will see if we can do any more to strengthen that piece. We have to…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 20th October, 2021.

I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, who could not be present. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for raising this issue. He is correct that the work that is carried out through the 24 providers of the EmployAbility service is essential and successful. The job coaching has been a great support for many over the years. The Department of Social Protection contracts with 24 providers to deliver employability services. These services supplement the Department’s internal Intreo service…

I had meant to address the redundancy part in the opening statement. I will deal with some of the Deputy's questions. Those who are assisted by this service will receive letters between now and December explaining the pathway for them and how they can engage with Intreo offices in future. The service will be reviewed. The Deputy asked if the contract could be secured by another party. I am sure that option is open. I will also raise that with the Department. Generally, these contracts are agreed for a year at a tim…