I welcome the presence of the Minister for Finance in the Chamber. I have a specific issue to bring to his attention and that is the mortgage freeze he agreed with the banking sector. It was a very welcome development. It has been brought to my attention, however, that Ulster Bank is implementing this in a different manner to the other mainstream banks. I have been informed by a constituent, who has a mortgage with Ulster Bank, that rather than putting the three-month freeze to the end of the mortgage, Ulster Bank …

I welcome the provisions in this legislation with regard to protection against eviction and a rent freeze. I will flag an issue which I flagged earlier with the Minister of State's colleague. It relates to those getting a break or freeze on their mortgages. While many of the commercial banks are implementing the agreement they have with the Minister for Finance, which is to extend the mortgage by a further three months at the end of the term and to provide a payment freeze in the short term, I understand that Ulste…

We have seen on social media Italian healthcare workers being applauded by their neighbours on their way to work each morning. I say to the doctors, nurses and all the healthcare staff, both in hospitals and the community, that we, the Members of the Regional Independent Group, applaud each and every one of them for the personal sacrifices being made to protect each and every one of our citizens in this very difficult time. I thank them. I also thank the gardaí, members of the Defence Forces, welfare and Health Ser…

I have three brief points. The first follows on from Deputy Catherine Murphy's issue. During Second Stage I highlighted that the Covid-19 payment is for people who have to self-isolate because they are infected with the virus. I refer, however, to people who have a medical certificate because they could end up dying if infected with Covid-19 as they are in the high-risk category. Those people are not eligible for this payment and that is an anomaly. People in that category have a similar medical certificate and hav…

Earlier I asked the Minister a question about employers who have already made the top-up payments over the past two weeks. They are being informed they will not get a recoupment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Will the Minister clarify that? Second, what is the position of full-time students who had part-time work that was supplementing their income? Are they entitled to a proportionate share of these payments? Third, regarding childcare workers, we have an anomaly at present whereb…

Will the Minister clarify the situation with regard to pharmacies re-issuing prescriptions? Will prescription charges be abolished, particularly for older people who are cocooned in their homes at present?

I move amendment No. 40: In page 8, after line 42, to insert the following: (v) house parties, namely gatherings of people in a private residence who don’t normally reside on the premises, for the purposes of entertainment;”. We have discussed it here on Second Stage but perhaps the Minister will clarify the position regarding house parties and whether the legislation is robust enough to deal with it. I raise the issue because the definition with regard to prohibition of events refers to events and "the numbers lik…

I welcome the introduction of the amendments by the Minister because there must be a sunset clause in the legislation. To be frank, six months will not be enough. The reality is that we have to get through a winter with this virus so it will have to be extended for another six months, regardless of whether we like it. First, we need a vaccine and, second, we must survive a winter with this virus and have those safety provisions in place. One never knows when there is going to be a resurgence of the virus. My amendm…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, déanaim comhghairdeas le gach duine eile atá tofa go dtí Dáil Éireann. Is mór an onóir dúinn uile ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar son ár dtoghthóirí. Is cúis bhróid dom a bheith ainmnithe mar iarrthóir do phost an Chinn Comhairle. Today, 48 Deputies take their seats for the first time. Their arrival is the culmination of campaigns on issues they care for and a cause in which they believe. Those of us here longer share their enthusiasm, but we can also share with them our experience. In my own case, …