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I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and wish him well in his new portfolio. Everyone across the country is wishing him well for the coming months. It is important to acknowledge the welcome news about Covid-19 and the reduction in the R-nought number. It might be early stages yet, but this shows that the cautious approach the Minister recommended to Cabinet last week was correct. That will be judged again come 10 August, but the signs are improving and that brings confidence among the public that the measures and…

Hear, hear.

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I also welcome the Bill before the House, which is the largest credit guarantee scheme in the history of the State. It has been brought in on the day we are announcing the largest stimulus package in the history of the State. It certainly shows the Government is recognising the supports that businesses throughout the country need. This is significant because I have spoken to businesses and the chamber of commerce in County Tipperary and what they need are supports suc…

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This week, in my native county of Tipperary and around the country, tillage farmers have started the harvest season. Anyone who comes from a farming family will know how exciting this time of year, when harvest starts, is. I read during the week that Bord Bia cannot insist on Irish grain being used in the grass-fed beef standard. That is really disappointing. We are promoting our beef products around the world as the best one can possibly get. Our grain can be used by farmers wishing to meet the grass-fed standard …

As I am speaking for the first time, I congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh, on your position and wish you well. I will be brief but I want raise the issue of a new building for the boys' national school in Cahir in Tipperary. The previous Government and previous Ministers, Deputies McHugh and Bruton, were proactive in supporting schools and new structures, buildings and extensions. Tipperary, like every other county, has been successful in that we had a major extension to the main high school in Clonmel and the same …

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment. It is a Department that will be extremely important in the next couple of years and I am sure someone with his drive and energy will be a success in it. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill and the expansion in supports it brings about through Microfinance Ireland. Given the vital measures it contains it is very important that the Bill progresses through the Seanad as quickly as possible to support microbusinesses.…