Ten minutes is what is listed here, so it is ten minutes.

Yes.

I welcome the publication of National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021. It is a €4 billion plan. A sum of €2 billion is to support 600,000 employees and workers through the continuation of the PUP and EWSS, which are important. It gives workers confidence and belief to employers. I have been pushing for this. Sectors such as aviation, hospitality and tourism have been decimated by Covid. Prior to the pandemic, aviation employed 140,000 people nationally, with Shannon Airport underpinning 47,300 jobs, making a cont…

I have a number of questions. Will the Minister advise the House on how many over-70s who have registered for the vaccine have not, as yet, been reached? I have come across a number of those cases in my constituency. I would appreciate if the Minister could update the House on the reasons why those people have not been reached at this stage. A number of weeks ago, I raised the issue of delivering the vaccine to housebound people. Could the Minister perhaps give a further update on that? I know that additional resou…

The time is expired. I ask the Minister to reply in writing to the questions posed.

The Deputy would be safe enough to conclude.

I again raise the issue of Shannon Airport. Last week, the airport was served a hammer blow by Aer Lingus when the airline announced that it was closing its permanent cabin crew base there. Government Deputies in the region met the Taoiseach last Thursday regarding this issue. At that meeting, the Taoiseach committed to meeting representatives of Aer Lingus to seek a reversal of this decision. Obviously, the Government is in discussions now with the airline, which is looking for a cash injection, a bailout or call …

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this important debate. As an island nation, international travel is of enormous importance for business and tourism. The aviation sector underpins 140,000 jobs, as does the tourism sector, on which also depend hundreds of thousands of jobs. Shannon Airport adds €3.6 billion to the GDP of our country and supports 43,700 jobs. The footprint of aviation-related companies in the Shannon area is very strong. We have aviation-related companies operating in the areas of leasing and ma…

I pay tribute and thanks to all the staff and support workers in our nursing homes and community hospitals who have taken care of many of our elderly family members over these difficult and sometimes lonely times during the past year and throughout the pandemic. These were very difficult times for residents, who were isolated from their loved ones and family members. The staff provided security, comfort and care to many of our family members. I am glad that visits have now been restored on a phased basis to those f…

I refer to the devastating news that was delivered yesterday to 81 Aer Lingus cabin crew. The proposed move will have a devastating impact on the mid-west region. Connectivity is key to the recovery of the economy, for business and for tourism. Shannon Airport is a driver of economic activity in the mid-west region and it is a massive part of balanced regional development. The Government has dragged its feet on publishing a plan for the restoration of international air travel. It is critical that this plan is publi…

-----and that the slots to Heathrow are protected for the next decade.

I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate. This island is but a small dot on the world's surface but we have been part of the developed world since the first farmers cultivated lands around the Céide Fields and other communities constructed Newgrange and the other monuments in the Boyne Valley. The cultivation of the land and the building of homes and towns over the following 7,000 years of human activity did not affect our climate or damage our environment. It was only with the invention of the steam …

I thank the Minister and Minister of State for their response and action in increasing resources to improve speed of delivery of vaccines to housebound people. They will recall that I raised the matter some weeks ago. One of the affected individuals, Mr. Joe Kenneally from Kilshanny in County Clare, has received his first dose of the vaccine. His family members are very thankful and they want to convey their thanks to the Minister and the National Ambulance Service for the care, courtesy and attention they showed t…

I commend the Minister on the vaccine roll-out, especially for those aged over 70 and front-line workers in the healthcare sector. In recent days, however, several cases have arisen in my constituency of Clare concerning elderly people who are housebound. These are the very people who were born just after the previous pandemic hit our country. I am aware there are technical details to be accomplished and that these cases were referred by GPs to the NAS in early March to deliver the vaccine. The first case concerns …

I too commend the Minister on his work in delivering these schemes and working on a very hands-on basis with business people and his Government colleagues. I also thank the staff of local authorities and of the Revenue Commissioners. Businesses have endured an unprecedented year, and without these vital supports, many of them would have folded. Schemes like the CRSS and the employment wage subsidy scheme are vital, therefore, and it is vital that they are extended. It is equally important there is no cliff edge, an…

I have three minutes and I would like the Minister to come back to me in the time remaining. There is considerable concern in the point-to-point community. As he will be aware, 37 point-to-point meetings took place in Ireland despite all levels of restrictions until 13 January when the sport abruptly ended. Point-to-point racing is the starting point for many of our National Hunt horses. The entire National Hunt breeding industry is now severely challenged and there will be a lasting impact on the industry, on sale…

In the time that is available, I would like if the Minister could come back to me verbally on the points I intend to raise. I welcome the positive announcement he made today in regard to the Coonagh-Knockalisheen section of the Limerick northern distributor road. I thank him for his engagement on that project. It is a positive development that will improve connectivity and investment in the mid-west region, including for educational facilities such as Limerick Institute of Technology. It will also enable improvemen…

At the outset, I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for debate. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, in the Chamber. Ennis is the capital town of County Clare and the largest town in Munster, with a population of more than 25,000 people. Ennis town centre is distinguished by its medieval character exemplified by narrow streets, laneways and traditional buildings, all of which are complemented by the natural qualities of the River Fergus which flows throu…

I thank the Minister of State for his update, his response and his knowledge of this particular issue. When does he expect a decision to be arrived at with regard to URDF applications? He said that there had been 76 applications nationwide. This is a key application made by Clare County Council. It is the final piece of the jigsaw. It is underpinned by public consultation, engagement with a number of stakeholders and technical and design studies. It is a really good project located in the heart of Ennis on the main…

Question No. 79 in the name of Deputy Cullinane is being taken by Deputy Mark Ward.