Does the Minister know what the Taoiseach was getting at?

They are.

The Minister knows that as well as I do.

It is socially priceless.

It is true.

I am sharing time with Deputy Paul Murphy. I have two questions for the Minister. The first concerns testing of front-line healthcare workers. Healthcare workers across the world have suffered a terrible toll in fighting this pandemic. In Britain, 200 NHS workers - doctors, nurses, care assistants and auxiliary staff - have died. It has been a terrible toll. In Ireland, more than a quarter of front-line workers have contracted the virus. That is 25% and that has also taken a huge toll. It takes three days for a fro…

My next question is not in respect of Covid. Last year, the Minister made an announcement regarding access to Spinraza for those living with spinal muscular atrophy. Unfortunately, the response I received yesterday to a parliamentary question indicates that fewer than half of the applicants approved for Spinraza have received it. Glen McHugh Farrelly, one of those applicants, is 19 years old and a student at Maynooth University. He is frustrated by the process. He thought he was going to get Spinraza at this time l…

It is a long time since we needed the environment and nature so much. The darkness of the pandemic has drawn us to parks, canals and other amenities to which we would not normally be drawn, and that is a very good thing. There is a new appreciation for our surroundings, which is also a really good thing. Canals such as the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal are probably being more used than ever because they are good amenities, they are near people's houses and there are no cars in their immediate vicinity. Many peopl…

My second question is topical. In recent months, car access has been restricted in the Phoenix Park. I think the Phoenix Park is the second largest city park in the world. Central Park in New York is the biggest, although I might not be correct on that. Anyway, it is an amazing amenity in the city of Dublin. Will the Minister review the use of cars, especially around the side roads of the Phoenix Park? Obviously, the main thoroughfare should be available for car use. Will the Minister consider banning cars from cer…

Many artists, singers, poets and so on have lost their livelihoods over a short period and the future for them is uncertain. Would the State support the idea of having gatherings in public spaces where physical distancing is adhered to? There could be performances by poets and singers and so on in spaces such as the Phoenix Park on a small scale that adhere to physical distancing as instructed by the authorities.

The Minister referenced the July provision a number of times in the past hour and a half. This is obviously a vital service for students with an intellectual disability. Can he give us a bit more meat on the bones in relation to that provision? Could it be extended into August, if possible, because a lot of students have been out of school for a considerable amount of time and the service is vital for them at this time? I ask the Minister to respond before I move on to my second question.

My second question concerns early school leavers in DEIS schools. This age group includes those aged between 13 and 16 and, like their peers, they have been out of school since March. That has taken a heavy toll on that age group and these students are at disproportionate risk of leaving school early. Has the Department made provision regarding class sizes and extra resources for those students in DEIS schools? My educational background was in DEIS schools in Neilstown, although I do not think it was the DEIS schem…

I am sharing time with Deputy Mick Barry. I have two questions. The vast majority of teachers and parents welcome the clarification on the leaving certificate. When the Minister spoke here two weeks ago, it was clear that it was not logistically possible to do the leaving certificate. The big issue for teachers is that they will now judge their own pupils for State exams. They want to be advocates for their students rather than stand in judgment. There is obviously unease about predictive grading in the teaching pr…

My second question is about students with special educational needs in DEIS schools. They have more than likely been experiencing difficulties, especially engaging in remote learning in the past two months. Does the Department have plans to ameliorate the loss of teaching time for these students and to increase the number of special education teachers and SNAs in September or October of the next academic year?

I wish to share time with Deputy Mick Barry.

Unfortunately, 2020 is shaping up to be an annus horribilis for the tourism sector - there is no getting away from that - as a result of the pandemic. That is the case across the world. Many people in Ireland, regardless of whether they live in rural or urban areas, rely on seasonal work in the tourism sector. Some of those workers are shut out of all Covid-19 supplements and payments. My first question is whether the Minister of State can commit to providing support for such seasonal workers, in particular over th…

I am sharing time with Deputy Paul Murphy. It seems like an eternity since, on 5 February, we saw the biggest national demonstration by childcare workers calling for a national investment in childcare. It seems like a different century almost, and it was three days before the general election. I was at it, like others in this Chamber, and it was an unprecedented demonstration. There must have been about 20,000 people at it. There was an incredible atmosphere. The main issues were in respect of low pay, retention of…

I am sharing time with Deputy Barry. My main question centres on the rescheduling of the leaving certificate. As we all understand, that decision will be taken in early June, which is five weeks away. There is a huge amount of uncertainty and a lack of clarity on this issue and there is a huge amount of anxiety among all parties, including teachers, parents and students. The general trend across Europe is quite mixed. In Britain, they have completely cancelled all exams this year. In France, they have cancelled all…

It is nice to see you again, a Cheann Comhairle. I am sure there has been a sense of the surreal among people for the past four weeks. That also applies to the proceedings today and with regard to what is happening to people's well-being and health. In a matter of weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs, incomes and livelihoods. The sense of insecurity we are experiencing has not been seen for generations. Today's figures make for sombre reading. Some 500,000 people are now on the live register,…