I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I thank the many gardaí, male and female, throughout this country who uphold law and order and carry out their duties, largely unarmed, in dangerous situations where they come across villains, thugs, drug lords and others involved in serious crime. I thank them for all that they do locally to help the elderly and people living alone and, in particular, for apprehending the villains that attack and rob those individuals in their homes. I sincerely thank each an…

I would be very grateful if the Taoiseach would respond to me in writing because I have too many things to highlight. There are many reports and surveys indicating that Kerry will be worse affected by the pandemic than any other county in the country. Indeed, I do not need to see any of those reports because I know of it first hand. We see that there is nothing at all happening in towns like Killarney, Dingle, Cahersiveen and Castleisland. In relation to seasonal workers, it is very unfair that they were not recogn…

I am glad to have the opportunity to raise some issues. The thing that hurt me and many others the most, which I raised earlier with the Taoiseach, is that people died in nursing homes and hospitals without any family member being with them. I do not know who made that decision. We must go forward. The Government did several things right but there were a number of things that were not done right and this is one of them. This is one thing I feel should not have happened. My own father died five years ago but I can r…

I thank my local authority, Kerry County Council, its management and workers for the great work they have been doing continually during this virus. I thank Radio Kerry, the Garda and all the voluntary workers around the county who have done tremendous work for people cocooning and those who are very isolated. It is only now that we realise the value of businesses and employers. I have mentioned several times here that Friday evening is not long coming when someone has a team of men or women to pay. These are the ve…

I too thank An Post for the great service it has given, and is still giving, right around the country. I hope that no more post offices will be closed down. I thank the local broadcasters, especially Radio Kerry. I also thank the local journalists. I wish to highlight that there has been difficulty accessing Zoom meetings. It has been explained to me that it is a problem right around the country. It is not fair that people cannot link in. Remote working is the order of the day but in Kerry it is hardly possible at …

That is the truth.

I appreciate that the Minister has a very difficult job. If I was a betting man he might be praying that he would get some other post in the present transactions on the programme for Government. So many of the children wanted the calculated grades assessment that I am glad they have got it but there are other pupils and students who felt they would do better if they sat the leaving certificate. I would have thought that as the numbers sitting it would then be reduced the Department would be able to cater for them t…

I am glad to get the opportunity to raise several issues with the Minister today. I will start with the problem of the youngest person who approached me. I refer to youngsters above the age of 16 who could legitimately get a provisional driver licence. We are told they will be able to apply for these licences online on 20 May. That is great, but they need to have personal services cards to do so and there is nowhere currently open where they can get these cards. Can that matter be addressed? I refer also to provisi…

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk about Cahersiveen to the Minister and Minister of State because the first I knew of this, like all the other elected representatives, was on the Monday before the asylum seekers came to Cahersiveen. The Government did open this direct provision centre in Cahersiveen. When it was proved wrong in many other parts of the country last year, it admitted it was wrong and that there should be proper consultation before that happened in any other part of the country. It did this wit…

The gate was locked that night and we now know why. The management wanted to stop reporters going in there and thought that they could block the reporters at the other doors if that gate was locked.

It is clear that the refugees want to leave Cahersiveen. It is clear that the people of Cahersiveen, the locals of the Iveragh Peninsula, want the centre closed down now. It is now evident that the Skellig Star Hotel is not suitable. The asylum seekers were packed in on top of each other in the first place, with three or so to a room. That is not acceptable. They were told to self-isolate but there is no compulsion on the residents to stay in the hotel and they are out around the town. It is not suitable. The back …

I wish to commiserate with all the families who have lost loved ones to this deadly disease. I want to thank all the people, each and every one, for the extraordinary sacrifice they have made and undertaken in the past six or seven weeks. I am calling on the Taoiseach to get as many people back to work as soon as is safely possible. This includes construction work and builders who may be working on one-off houses. I want the Taoiseach to explore the possibility of getting those people back as soon as possible as we…

Many companies will not recover. We need to assist every employer who is going to attempt to carry on in any way we can because every job is valuable. As I said in my questions to the Taoiseach, I ask the Minister to explore every avenue when it comes to construction work, building companies and the construction of one-off houses. Every situation is different. I am sure that each person in the State realises the importance of social distancing and will be doing everything they can to ensure that they follow the gui…

Every one of those buses had a driver, or even two, and those drivers now are not getting paid a cent. They are being left behind. It is wrong. I am sorry to say-----

I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

I am sorry, I must-----

I have two buses. That is what I have, honestly.

Of course, I also have a pub, like all the others.

There needs to be a roadmap-----

There needs to be a roadmap for publicans and the like all around the country.