Debenhams was not the first offender in using such tactical insolvencies and the loopholes the Taoiseach has described. Everyone will recall Clerys and its workers and will remember that at that time, the political class said it must never happen again. Guess what? It has happened again and will happen again, time after time, in both the retail sector and elsewhere, unless those loopholes are closed. The time for reviewing is over and the time for action is now. When will the law be changed to protect workers in th…

Hear, hear.

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I wish to raise the issue of the intensification of attacks on Gaza by the Israeli army throughout last month. These attacks included the use of war planes with Israeli army offensives carried out almost daily from early August. In addition to the military attacks, Israel imposed further restrictions on the people of Gaza, which involved banning the entry of fuel for Gaza's only power plant. International media reported significant attacks on the Gaza Strip, resulting in ever…

As the Taoiseach noted, the threat of the further annexation of Palestinian land has been suspended but it has not been definitively taken off the table. As the Taoiseach is also aware, the state of Israel is additionally and in any event consistently in breach of international law. It is the essence of what we might call a rogue state. We want to get to a solution. I want Ireland to be as constructive and helpful as possible in that regard and at times that means we have to lead from the front. As the Taoiseach kn…

Continuing on that theme, it is not only the representatives of the Sisters of Charity that the Taoiseach must speak to regarding these workers from St. Mary's, St. Monica's and the Caritas convalescent centre, but also the HSE. Many of these workers have given decades of service and worked right through the Covid-19 pandemic. They were front-line workers who were applauded, if the Taoiseach remembers. By the way, a decade ago when their wages were being cut, there was no doubt or debate about who was the employer …

We have proposed legislation in respect of enhanced force majeure leave to facilitate the situations that Deputy Kelly has envisaged whereby people are prevented from attendance at work for health reasons. It would surely be a travesty if people felt pressured into going to work simply for financial reasons. This is a matter of some priority. Does the Taoiseach agree with the proposition from his colleague in government, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that two-for-one specials enjoyed by shoppers in supermarkets and shops acro…

I think the Taoiseach means against climate change and for climate justice. One cannot be for climate change. That is what he said.

Climate justice is a better concept.

It is not populist; it is good science.

It is good science.

That is excellent and is, I am sure, met with joy universally. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his opening statement. There are many things I might have raised with the Taoiseach today as we return to session. I did not think I would be raising the issue of energy costs, but here we are. This morning, people woke to the news that some 1 million of them are to face higher electricity costs from the beginning of October. This is a result of the 3.4% price hike announced by Electric Ireland. It is important that we al…

The past six months were very difficult for people and the next six months will equally be difficult as we face into maybe the most difficult winter season in living memory. Big asks are being made of businesses, as the Taoiseach says, of workers and of families. In that context, any hike in energy costs or any utility cost is quite simply out of the question. We have had a hard time, but it has been particularly hard for low-paid workers, low-income families, seasonal workers and younger workers. It is in that spi…

I congratulate Deputy McConalogue on his appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I extend my good wishes to him as he embarks on what is a very important job. There is no doubt that his appointment comes at a time of very great challenge and uncertainty for Ireland's agricultural and fishing communities. Our farmers and our fishermen deserve focus, energy and resolve from Government as Brexit talks reach a critical juncture and as family farming in Ireland faces an uncertain future. I also ext…

Welfare and solidarity payments should not be abused. We are all in agreement on that point. If there is any malpractice or fraud, it must be addressed. The circumstances we now face do not relate to corruption or malpractice but to a decision taken by the Government to openly and blatantly discriminate against workers who are on a Covid payment. Having issued inconsistent and confused travel advice, the Government now says that workers on a Covid payment cannot take a holiday that they may have paid for 12 months …

It is the Taoiseach who has broken the consensus and the notion that we are all in this together by sending inspectors to airports seeking out those on Covid payments. That is what has happened. I put it to the Taoiseach that in so doing, the Government acted outside the law. I would like him to state to the Dáil the legal basis upon which individuals were approached to establish their social welfare status. Did the Department have reasonable grounds to do so, or did inspectors simply make an assessment based on th…

Will it be carried out by the Department, when will we see results from it and when will the small number of people involved get their money back?

I am.

No, the Taoiseach has not.

No, it is not.

Somebody did.