I apologise to the Cathaoirleach but it is disingenuous of Members to come in here and claim different things. We are a political people and we are entitled, as Members, to share information just as Departments are entitled to share information. Senator Craughwell is a good man to give it but he had better take it as well. I apologise to the Cathaoirleach as it would not be my intent to be disrespectful.

I appreciate that.

I did not hear the Senator and ask him to repeat what he said.

I can assure Senator Gallagher that when it comes to the collective sharing of information, we can do that. I am sure that he knows what I mean by that. A Chathaoirligh, I ask that the Minister for Health comes to the House as a matter of urgency. There is absolute confusion around the flu vaccine this morning. At the time of a pandemic, there is a need for certainty and confidence in the Health Service Executive. GPs are sharing information with us regarding the availability, non-availability or suspension of the …

He was in Cork last Sunday.

His name is Mark Keane.

I commend the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle on their decision to invite President-elect Biden and I congratulate him and Senator Kamala Harris on their election. I join Senator Byrne in congratulating John King of CNN on his wonderful exposé of how to carry out analysis of politics and I commend my past pupil, Brian O'Donovan, of RTÉ. I primarily rise to support Senator Craughwell on the issue of gender pay equality. It is incumbent on us as Members of the Oireachtas to support the WorkEqual Oireachtas grou…

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, on his appointment as I have not seen him since then. I thank Senator Burke for sharing time with me. Section 60 of the Waste Management Act 1996 is very important, but it urgently requires clarity. As Senator Burke has eloquently outlined, a myriad of plastics is used for business, commercial, building and farm purposes. A uniform approach on the part of the Government is required, but that has not happened. This is having profound implications for everybody. A …

I support Senator Burke and thank the Minister of State, although I acknowledge it is not a matter for the Department in which he has responsibility. The industry needs support. The collection, holding and recovery of this material urgently needs a new way of thinking and a new model that can assist private and public contractors in working together.

I join Members in asking that we support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. Lawmakers in most European countries are in favour of Taiwan joining the WHO. It makes no sense, if we are collectively trying to defeat Covid-19, that Taiwan cannot participate in the WHO. I urge the House and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to lend Ireland's support to its participation. I ask the Cathaoirleach and Leader to arrange a debate on the forthcoming decision of NPHET on moving from level 5 to a different …

He is right though.

I join with Senators Carrigy and Keogan in asking that we have a debate about the issues of travel agents and travel. Only this week, Ryanair has announced the closure of its bases in Cork and Shannon. I will repeatedly demand that we have an honest debate about whether we, as a country, are going to be open and open for business. It is incumbent upon us to have that honest debate in this Chamber. I ask Members of the House to reflect on what they have said about Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and the GAA championship seas…

The Senator does not have to second it.

The Senator will need more stationery.

Hear, Hear.

I hope they are not. Bring back Bertie, is it?

I will make one quick point. In the allocation of the biggest budget spending ever, it is imperative to do one thing. I mean what I am about to say in a non-political manner. The Minister was Opposition spokesperson for almost a decade. It is imperative that the moneys allocated in respect of health, disability and the hospice sector are not given to the HSE to administer. The moneys must be given to organisations like COPE and Marymount University Hospital. I will challenge the Minister and the Minister for Financ…

Well said.

I do not know how to follow Senator Garvey because she has said a lot. I understand the sentiment of the motion but the principal and fundamental underpinning is, as Senator Garvey said, that Shannon Group is not just an airport. Therein lies part of the difficulty. Despite what Members think and what I might say, I am not interested in having a Shannon versus Cork debate and rivalry, even though there is competition, which is healthy, because Shannon is to the mid-west what Cork is to the south. Tonight's debate i…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking this matter, which is a very important one. I wish to commend him on his work so far as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. As the Minister of State is aware, the Lower Lee flood release scheme is a very important one for Cork city, and I want to thank him for his proactivity, not just around Cork city, but around the flooding in west Cork, his availability, interest and activity. The backdrop to the request for …