The programme for Government commits the Government to establishing a night-time economy task force within 30 days, which would lead us up to Monday, 27 July. I am looking for an update as to whether that task force has been set up.

I thank the Minister for her reply. It is very encouraging that she will be announcing the task force next week, and if it is a day or two after Monday, we will not be holding her to that. I think all Members of the House agree that the promotion of our night-time culture is very important. What the Labour Party committed to in our manifesto complements a lot of what is in the programme for Government. As such, we would be supportive of any of the measures that are coming in that we feel will progress this issue. A…

That is brilliant. I thank the Minister again for her response. I would appreciate it if we could have some update from the task force on its early work through the late summer and early autumn when we return after the recess, or as early as is practicable. I look forward to discussing this further with the Minister in future questions.

On climate change, if the Government is to reach its target of producing 70% of its electricity from renewable resources, wind energy, including offshore wind energy, will play a significant role. My question relates to the marine planning development and management Bill, which was due before quarter 3 of this year. What are the plans relating to it and will the Taoiseach provide the House with a timeline for its presentation?

On a point of clarification, if another Member wants to come in is it a question of raising one's hand or-----

I thank the Taoiseach. I am not that-----

The NESC has done good work during Covid-19 with regard to producing papers. It has looked at examples of schemes in other states. In particular, it is looking at the German short-time working scheme, the Kurzarbeit, with a view to replacing the temporary wage subsidy scheme and giving some kind of certainty to workers who are very concerned that when the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, finishes so could their jobs and their futures. We in the Labour Party support a short-time working scheme being implemented.…

I would be interested to know if the committee met last night in advance of the Cabinet meeting. As we know, the Cabinet meeting was delayed by an hour and a half or more. My assumption, which may be incorrect, is that the green list articulated in public by the Tánaiste may have fed into a committee meeting and delayed the Cabinet meeting in turn. I am interested to know what discussions of the Tánaiste's comment took place prior to or during the Cabinet meeting. My opinions on the green list have been well public…

Travel is indeed on the floor. The airport is in my constituency, so I am keenly aware of that. However, I do not think that any of the three of us is engaging in hyperbole in asking questions of the Taoiseach.

In fairness, Deputy Boyd Barrett was very confident in his delivery and all that, but what he is saying is spot on and it is exactly how I feel and how I think Deputy McDonald and others in this House feel. There is an issue with using the wording "green light". Green means go, as I said on the radio yesterday morning, and it was a political decision to give implicit permission in this regard, which is what this wording does. The Government could have just put a list of the countries that have lower rates of infect…

My question relates to the temporary wage subsidy scheme and how it relates to applications for short-time work. I have clarified with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection that people who are working 30% of their hours and in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme can apply for short-time work. That has been made clear, but employers are not signing the UP14 form. This is happening in the aviation sector and in Aer Lingus. Can the Tánaiste and the Government provide clarity to the employe…

I wish to congratulate the Minister on his new role and to genuinely wish him all the best. I extend those good wishes to the fellow spokespeople who will be taking a special interest in these portfolios. I hope we can all work together to mount challenges, reach conclusions and move forward with what we want to see in the area of communications, climate action and the environment. My question is a local one but an important one. It concerns north County Dublin. When will we see timelines for the provision of broad…

The website is useful up to a point, and has been for a number of years, in identifying the townlands. The issue is knowing how long these townlands will remain amber or when they will go live with broadband. That is a big job for the Minister to deliver on. Throughout the pandemic we have seen the benefits of working from home, but we have also seen the challenges. Some households in the constituency I represent may have two adults along with one, two or three children all needing broadband to work or study from h…

I urge caution on the private sector and having to row back on them. With a new Government and a Minister with a strong track record in fighting for this, we need to strengthen the NBP and give confidence to people that it will deliver. Those 6,050 households cannot be left behind at the end of the list. The State needs to provide them with what is now an essential service. Communication about this is key. We have had issues whereby broadband technology and infrastructure has gone halfway up a laneway in north Coun…

I congratulate the Minister of State on his role, which I am sure still feels very new to him. I know he has been flying the flag down in his constituency for a long time, so congratulations on all his success. The Labour Party will support this Bill and we broadly agree with the repurposing of the existing levy for ring-fencing and the funding of the new climate action fund. It is something that my colleague, Deputy Sherlock, raised last year when he was our spokesperson on climate and it is encouraging to see it …

I congratulate the Minister and the Minister of State on their new roles. I look forward to working with them over the coming months and for however long this Government lasts. I get a sense from the Minister that she has a strong understanding of all the difficulties the arts sector faces and I am encouraged by that. The programme for Government states that as part of the July stimulus, there will be funding and initiatives for the arts sector. Is what we heard today part of the stimulus? I am concerned about pack…

Would it be fair to say that the Minister is pushing for more funding in the July stimulus package so that there may be some expectation or hope in the industry of further announcements later this month?

I regret that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is no longer in auditorium because I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment. He is a constituency colleague and I know him well. He is, of course, a Fianna Fáil Minister. When many people heard that a Fianna Fáil Minister was taking over the housing portfolio there was a sharp intake of breath and worry because Fianna Fáil has always associated itself with housing. Some of that tradition is proud, in particular the large public hous…

I congratulate the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on his new post and genuinely wish him every success. Particularly with a Ministry such as Health, his success will be the success of the entire nation in keeping us all healthy. We do not need a reminder of how important our health service is or how well it has performed under the most difficult circumstances over the past months due to this awful pandemic. However, I remain deeply concerned about the provision, distribution and use of face coverings…

I have a concern as we go into August and September. I imagine the schools will be back in some fashion, although that is a whole other debate. Society will feel like it is moving even further towards reopening and we may feel further away psychologically from the pandemic. I want to continue to hammer home the need for the Government to be ten steps ahead of where society is as we head into the winter. We are going to have a re-emergence of seasonal 'flu; we always do and it always puts massive pressure on our hea…