I will try to be as brief as I can. I offer my sincere heartfelt condolences to any person who has been bereaved as a result of this virus. I wish a fast and full recovery to those who are ill with the virus at home or in hospital. I would like to ask a number of questions about the situation as it stands, particularly on behalf of medical professionals and the medical and scientific community. Some of my questions have arisen in my constituency office and in the offices of my colleagues. We have an opportunity tod…

We are in agreement on that, which is fine, but can we also secure an agreement that there will not be any further changes without a meeting of the Business Committee, if that is in order?

I extend my deepest sympathies to those families bereaved by Covid-19. I wish all those ill with the virus, in hospital or at home, a full and speedy recovery. This Bill is another extraordinary piece of legislation. We were here last week, and we live in unprecedented and strange times. Part 4 concerns changes to allow former registered health workers rejoin their professions and work at the front line, while Part 5 concerns a number of substantive amendments to the Mental Health Act. I welcome the provision and c…

We will support amendments Nos. 42 to 47, inclusive, because we have all been contacted by people who are existing in direct provision and they want to play their part. A call has gone out that everyone who can play their part should play their part and we have people who are here living in appalling and shameful circumstances who are putting up their hands. If their qualifications are appropriate and can be recognised, they should be facilitated. The Minister has said repeatedly that we all need to be on call for …

We are minded to support this amendment. We need as many people as possible. Where there is no comparison between the health systems and the qualifications, I accept that might pose an issue but there are transparent similarities between the health systems and the qualifications that should make the transition quite easy. If there are people who are willing to help at this time and people who want to come home and be, as the Government calls it, "On Call for Ireland", we should do all that we can to facilitate them…

I will discuss amendments Nos. 53 and 54. I fully appreciate what it is expected and intended that consultant psychiatrists will do and I mean no disrespect to barristers. I know there are some here and I am sure they are all very well-meaning but they are not clinicians and are not clinically trained. I have a concern. To detain someone involuntarily is a very serious undertaking. I remember when the Mental Health Act was brought in. It was debated long and hard. To have persons involved in that or to have all of …

I hear what the Minister is saying in relation to it already being possible but it is not done in practice. I am not aware of situations where it happens at the moment, which is the reason I wanted to insert that clause. I do not want to do anything that would undermine the operation of the Mental Health Act either but it is my very firm view that unless it can be conveyed comprehensively to people that is going to be available to them, I will remain concerned. The Minister can understand the concerns that are bein…

I move amendment No. 53: In page 21, line 30, after “concerned” to insert “in person or by remote consultation”.

The amendments that were ruled out of order are extremely important. I understand why they have been ruled out of order. I am not disputing that. It does not change the fact, however, that women will still need to access termination services and will not be able to do so. I would like to hear from the Minister if there is a plan in place. If there is, how will women be able to continue to access the services in question?

Go raibh maith agat. Before we get into the substantive legislation, this morning I was in my constituency office in Swords, which is currently closed to the public, but we are helping people as much as we can over the telephone. Some of the stories we have heard are heartbreaking. I was a trade union official for a long time, as most Members here will be aware. I worked with many people who lost their jobs, but they generally saw it coming. Even when the boss would not tell the workers that they were going to lose…

Could we get a written copy of the amendments ruled out of order because we do not have them? I know the list was circulated electronically but could they be circulated in the Chamber?

Yes.

Thank you. I am not going anywhere.

It is disappointing that Sinn Féin's amendment on the solidarity payment has been ruled out of order. We need a comprehensive explanation. We are in unprecedented times. Some employers who have the means want to ensure their workers do not fall completely off a cliff. I ask for a comprehensive explanation as to why those will not be allowed. To echo what my colleague said; will there be a separate rate for the under 25s or will everyone get the same?

I move amendment No. 37: In page 8, line 21, after “homes” to insert “or place of lodgings”. The amendment is self-explanatory. Not everybody has a home, although I will not get into the politics of why they do or do not. The amendment seeks to ensure that every person is represented as part of the legislation.

Many people are doing their very best, observing social distancing, and did so all weekend. Those people are washing their hands and minding themselves, their families and communities. On Monday morning, those people went into work, an environment they cannot control. They can control the environment at home but when they go into work there might be 100, 200 or 300 people there. I know of a building site, not too far from this House, where there are only two hand sanitisers, one of which is empty. These people are …

I thank the officials in the Department of Health and those working in the HSE on the front line of this healthcare challenge. I express my very sincere best wishes to those who have contracted the virus. I hope they have a very speedy recovery. I sincerely hope that those who are worried about contagion can get the comfort and the information they need. Many of us here this evening have been privy to briefings. The fact that we still have questions, and questions are being asked here this evening, should serve as …

I offer my sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the Ceann Comhairle on his re-election. It is a great honour for me to be here today on behalf of the people of Dublin Fingal, whom I thank for sending me to the Dáil again to represent them. I will do just that to the vert best of my ability. A clear majority of people in the election voted not just for change, but for action. They want to see the housing and health crises sorted. They want the largest public housing programme in the history of the State. They wa…