I ask the Minister to outline his views on reports that personnel are leaving the Naval Service to join the Army because of poor pay and conditions. What impact will this have on the Naval Service? I also ask him to outline his views on pay levels throughout the sector.

First, I commend the valuable work done by our serving personnel on our behalf at home and abroad. I particularly applaud the co-ordination role they have played during the pandemic. I posed this question today because reports indicate that a recent scheduled maritime patrol did not take place because of a lack of personnel. It is also my understanding that this was not an isolated event. I ask the Minister to assure the House that key matters dealt with by our Naval Service, like the interception of illegal drugs,…

We all accept that Defence Forces personnel have been underpaid which is why many are leaving to take up other employment. Has the Department drawn up any projections regarding the implications if this trend continues? In particular, has it analysed the impact low personnel numbers will have on the overall size of our Defence Forces and the security implications of same? What is needed to attract former personnel or new recruits in order to restore the strength of our Defence Forces to an adequate level? Finally, w…

Yesterday was European Carers Day. In an online briefing, Family Carers Ireland spoke of the pressures that family carers are under to meet their bills. Some are forced to make a choice between heating their homes and getting their shopping. The programme for Government commits to improving supports for carers. Now that electricity and other utility bills are going up for many, will the Government provide supports for carers to deal with cost increases such as these, given that many do not quality for the fuel allo…

This has been a year of nothing but uncertainty. Up to now all the talk has been about Brexit, but as we know the Covid-19 pandemic has spread around the world and has made the complex process of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU even worse and has wasted time that could have been devoted to more important matters. Brexit has presented challenges that we could not imagine. It has put the future and prosperity of many of our businesses in jeopardy. It has caused uncertainty, leaving businesses unable make plans o…

On the same issue, I note that our train services in Tipperary run at ridiculous times, which are unsuitable for anybody going to college or work. Can the Minister work with Iarnród Éireann to change the timetables? We are all about reducing carbon footprints by getting people out of their cars and onto public transport. There is no point in having public transport if we do not have timetables that suit people.

I have been informed that in my town of Cashel the public were without an ambulance service for a number of nights recently. I have been told that this is because ambulance crews were not available, that at one stage the service was covered by a sole practitioner and that ambulance shifts were being dropped on a regular basis around the county. On 17 September, there were no crews in Cashel. On 18 September, there were no crews in Cashel or Tipperary town. For five out of ten nights recently, Cashel did not have an…

I will keep my contribution short. At this time of year, everyone in this House receives a stream of phone calls from their communities with reports of fireworks, bangers and bonfires. It is nothing new, but I have noticed that reports are coming in earlier every year. It has now got to a stage where fireworks are being let off all year round and not just at Hallowe'en. They are disruptive, dangerous and being purchased and used illegally. The problem persists, so clearly there is something wrong with the efforts t…

As the Minister of State, will be aware there have always been people, especially in rural Ireland, who have found themselves isolated for one reason or another. This has increased in recent times due to the pandemic and the need to fight the virus. What are the Department's plans to tackle this growing problem as we face into the first winter with Covid-19?

I appreciate what the Minister of State has said. The supports to which he has referred will help a little, but rural isolation has been a major problem for many years. There are so many problems in rural Ireland but I do not have time to list them all today. Poverty and lack of transport in rural areas and the reluctance of some people to cry out for help are serious issues, as is the closure of rural post offices. On the latter, plenty of excuses have been given but we all know that when people go missing this is…

I appreciate the Minister of State's concern and hope that services are delivered for people going into what will be a tough and frightening winter for many of them. Another issue that arises in this regard is rural crime, particularly for people in more isolated areas. What will the Government do to help rural communities in that context, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána? I am also concerned about those caring for people in isolated rural areas. They will need additional support to look after people with spec…

The response to this pandemic has put unexpected and unprecedented demands on the Irish economy and gross spending is considerably up. Increased spending of this nature was inevitable and justified by the need to invest in the public good. The phrases I have used, "the need to invest" and "the public good", are two matters I will return to later. Social protection and health were given particular attention and that is to be recognised and welcomed. When faced with a pandemic such as this, it is obviously not possib…

I ask that this expenditure response be seen as an opportunity to invest in our country and our people. It was stated recently that the recovery will be investment-led and we need the Government to commit to that statement.

I too wish the Minister of State well. If this crisis were to end tomorrow, chances are the Government would carry on as always, as the amendment to the motion shows. I represent a large rural constituency that lacks a proper transport system. Taxi services prove particularly important. Whether to make deliveries or provide transport to elderly people to get their pensions, taxi operators so often go above and beyond what is required of them to make up for the lack of rural bus and delivery services. Deputy O'Rourk…

I congratulate Deputy Joan Collins on tabling this motion which is about justice and fairness for those who have, through no fault of their own, been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. When any business shuts down it is the workers' families who suffer but the reasons for businesses closing their doors are varied. There are questions over the purpose of the closure of Debenhams. There is a history of this type of action that impacts workers the most. For some, a workforce is just entries on a spreadsheet, numbers to …

I ask that we would also deal with Questions Nos. 133 and 139 as they are on the same topic.

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I want to get his views on the concerns many farmers have on the issuing of tuberculosis herd history risk letters to farmers and the implications of same in terms of GDPR; the impact that such letters have on the value of herds that have passed a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Farmers accept this needs to be tackled. However, in recent times, we have had meetings with farming organisations and all have expressed their concern at the issuing of letters regarding TB herd history. It has angered not just farmers in my constituency but all over the country. They are saying that what the Department has done is to affect the welfare of individual farmers by sending out letters, and many of them believe this leads to the devaluation of their herds. This was all done without any protection being…

I have to disagree with the Minister. The people who are operating in the sector say it devalues their herds. The letters in question were not agreed in the TB forum, which has to get up and running a great deal better than what is happening. What is concerning is that following recent events farmers need to have confidence in the Department and they just do not have it now. Various organisations have spoken about how the farmers' faith in the Department is being eroded. These letters did little to help that, and I…

I also thank Deputy Cullinane for bringing this motion before the House. Every family in the country has been affected by cancer. We all know that early screening and diagnosis are crucial and can save lives. The current crisis has robbed us of time. For health reasons, services had to be reduced or cancelled. For people with a health condition they think might be cancer, this pandemic must have turned days into weeks and weeks into months. So far this year, fewer than 100,000 people have had cancer screening compa…