Now.

During this crisis we have seen many examples throughout the country of people being creative and communities coming together. Musicians have performed in parks, greens and housing estates. I ask the Leader to call on the Minister with responsibility for heritage and culture to create a day of recognition of all these different initiatives that helped people in the darkest days of this pandemic. I think of one example in my area, Clahane, County Clare, where all the young people have painted beautiful sea stones. S…

Like everybody else in the country, I am disappointed that phase 4 must be delayed until 10 August, but it is obvious that it is being done in the interest of public health. We have no choice but to embrace it and deliver on it. It is certainly the case that the 3,500 pubs that do not serve food must remain closed because we know that mingling and interaction are part of the pub culture and among the reasons people go to a pub. All Members have heard many anecdotal stories about pubs that serve food and are current…

-----dangerous rogue operators. Gabhaim buíochas.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle for dealing with the teething problems we are inevitably going to face over the coming period. The arrangements are working out very well. I call on the Leader to facilitate a debate with the Minister with responsibility for tourism at some stage very soon, because tourism will be one of the mechanisms we use to successfully reboot our economy. Back in 2012, when we were on our knees as a country and an economy, the first industry that blossomed and helped get us ou…

I will pick up on Senator Dooley's point. The project the Senator mentioned in Lahinch has benefitted already, in terms of the previous Government, with a grant of €2.7 million but there is a deficit there of €2 million. In order to create a gold-plated facility, such a scheme would be welcome. It was funny that this week last year Lahinch in County Clare hosted the Irish Open, which was a phenomenal success and generated worldwide coverage of the village and the entire west coast of Clare. Fast-forward 12 months, …

Is Senator Conway there? I call Senator Moynihan.

Apologies about earlier on. I just slipped out for a moment.

In the first instance, I support my colleague, Senator Dooley, in requesting that the Minister with responsibility for transport come in here for an urgent debate on the situation in Shannon because what is happening there seems to fly in the face of what companies throughout the private sector in this country have attempted, and in many cases succeeded, to do at great cost to themselves. I would also like to make a request of the Leader that at some stage over the next couple of months we would have a detailed deb…

I move: "That Senator Jerry Buttimer be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach." I also welcome our dear friend and former Leas-Chathaoirleach, Paul Coghlan, to the Gallery. He has become a very dear friend to most of us who have been around here for a while. He has served County Kerry, as has the Cathaoirleach, his country, the State and Seanad Éireann with enormous distinction over a very lengthy career as a Member of the House. The State and Seanad Éireann owe him a big debt of gratitude. With that, it is an absolute privi…

On a housekeeping matter, I indicated very early on-----

-----that I wished to rise and congratulate the Cathaoirleach, but whoever decided on today's floor plan obviously did not give any consideration whatsoever to my specific requirements. I could not see the top table and whether the Cathaoirleach had noticed that I had indicated. As such, I apologise, but my lateness is in no way meant to be disrespectful of the Cathaoirleach.

Speaking as someone who has been in the ring with him three times and succeeded on the Administrative Panel, it is a fantastic day for him. I know how he campaigns. I know the work he does. I completely understand how and why he gets elected with a resounding vote in every election. It would be remiss at this stage not to pay tribute to the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Senator O'Donovan, and the outgoing Leader, Senator Buttimer, for the work they did in a difficult Seanad. There was no majority, and the absence of a ma…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and congratulate her on her appointment. It is a fantastic opportunity to be taking over at the Department of Justice and Equality at this particular time of transformation. We have seen some transformation carried out under the auspices of previous Ministers, Frances Fitzgerald and Deputy Flanagan, but the best is yet to come in this regard. Further transformation will be possible as a result of the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the…

I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2020 and ending on 29th June, 2021.

At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 July 2020.

On Senator Reilly's point, I agree that under normal circumstances one person should not be in a position to make such draconian decisions but one would hope, similar to the legislation that was passed here last week, that it would never be required. We need to give the powers that be the flexibility that if it was needed in rare circumstances, that would happen. In terms of the golf courses my learned colleague spoke about, all golf courses should close. It is very simple. In fairness, the Golfing Union of Ireland…

Yes, I want to just very quickly concur with what the Tánaiste said.

I indicated before it was agreed, Acting Chairman. The last thing we want to do with this emergency legislation is create unintended consequences. I agree with the Tánaiste's synopsis of it. I am fully aware of situations under the Mental Health Act where teleconferencing was used to assist in decision making. The option already exists. I commend Members who went to the trouble of tabling the amendments. Their intentions were very good. We also have to be careful of unintended consequences.

I listened in agreement to Senator Gavan. I, too, have been contacted by people in the travel industry. I have also been contacted by people who are caught abroad after they paid for flights, but the flights have not taken place. The situation is that they will get a refund in 12 months. Many of them are students. Perhaps the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport could intervene with the Commissioner for Transport. This is a European problem. Fast solutions could be devised through the Commissioner for Transpor…