I will be sharing my time with Deputy Verona Murphy. In the past ten days, three economic reports were released by the Department of Finance, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and the employers' group IBEC. They examined the financial resilience of Irish small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, the revenue lost since the onset of Covid-19 and the future revenue trajectory into 2021, depending on the broader economic environment. The findings were stark. Almost half of firms made lockdown losses. So…

In March 2020 the Courts Service introduced measures to scale back the work of the courts because of the Covid-19 lockdown period. In a statement published in July, the Chief Justice, Mr. Frank Clarke, outlined plans to further increase the number of remote hearings offered by the Courts Service. Most appeals before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal to date have been conducted remotely, save for a small number where a physical hearing was considered necessary. He stated that this situation will continue for…

It is important that the Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018, which was introduced by the former Senator, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, and which lapsed with the Thirty-second Dáil be reinstated. I am glad to hear the Minister say it is to be restored to the Order Paper. Somebody once said, "Never argue with someone who believes their own lies". That mantra should never be allowed in our legal system. Perjury is an offence. In essence, it is lying for personal gain or advancement, and it is rarely a victimless crime. It in…

Anseo, a Chathaoirligh.

I am up in the gods. We had a short debate last night with the Minister of State and it is ironic that he and I are back here again so soon. The dignity, importance and value of work were mentioned in last night's debate. Work delivers respect. It engenders self-respect. It provides financial independence to families. It allows people and families to craft a future for themselves and for their children, and hopefully to provide security in their old age. We have many forms of work in this country and retail has pro…

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him the very best of luck in his new role, which the country will certainly need. What learning has occurred from Covid-19 planning? What measures might be implemented in the future regarding public policy planning and procurement as a result of the recent experience gained?

I thank the Minister for his response. One of his areas of responsibility is expenditure and its management and oversight. One of the issues arising in Covid-19, in particular, is the issue of procurement of supply chains. We have had to run to China and spend inordinate amounts of money to try to secure the supply of PPE, when in fact there are a number of companies in this country which could provide that. It is time for HSE procurement to take a very different view on this. The private hospitals deal done recent…

I thank the Minister. I look forward to engaging with him. One thing that must be considered is that the State is the largest purchaser in the country. We have to get far more radical about how we procure services and products in this country. I point out to the Minister that there is a list of necessary pharmaceuticals, with about 175 in total. Some 135 are made only in China and India. We need to consider these things, as other countries do, with regard to securing future supply lines and safety in case of future…

Will the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform consider implementing a policy to allow the organisation, details of which have been supplied, to have a seat on the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, and the steps he can take to remedy the lack of access by small and medium-sized enterprise, SME, representatives to Department of Finance officials in view of recent statements by those representatives at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response?

I thank the Minister of State. He mentioned an engagement on 10 July but I spoke about a lack of engagement that has gone on for many months, and even longer than that. ISME represents approximately 700,000 employees, which is quite a large portion of our smaller employers. That group finds it very difficult to get any access and I referenced the unavailability of senior departmental officials to ISME representatives and hence smaller businesses. I point out that IBEC is a far larger grouping and a large number of …

As I said in the Chamber recently, I find myself in agreement but Deputy Boyd Barrett at times. I certainly could not disagree with much of what he said just there, particularly in respect of the banking sector. The credit guarantee scheme of €2 billion, based on the relaxation of state aid rules for a limited time, will be given primarily to primary producers, SMEs and mid-caps. This is to be welcomed. It is to secure employment and, in doing so, it will, hopefully, secure the future of our youth, our culture and …

The old adage "health is wealth" is now a social and economic truth and one that we must continue to grapple with. The necessary shutdown of our economy has taken a significant toll on business activity and employment. The life-support employment packages announced by the Government in response to Covid-19 have cushioned circumstances for many employees and employers but these supports will have to have an expiry date, as we know. The overarching requirements in managing this disease outbreak in Ireland are getting…

I note the very sad passing of Detective Colm Horkan and send condolences, on behalf of the Regional Group, to his family and the families of victims of Covid. As we appear to be exiting this crisis, we may well be heading into another. In this present respite, we have yet to address the expected winter surge and the possible re-emergence of Covid-19, mindful of the reduction in bed capacity and procedures output due to increased infection control protocols. Portiuncula University Hospital in Galway has seen a 10% …

There was also the issue of temperature testing.

An additional eight people have been recorded as having passed due to Covid-19 so, as good as we are going and despite the progress we feel we have made through the lockdown, we must stay as vigilant as ever. Again, we thank our health services. Covid-19 has presented significant challenges to many sectors but the Minister's portfolio of transport, tourism and sport is seeing especially significant fallout. My questions largely relate to transport and, in particular, buses. The Minister has acknowledged that the 2 …

It is part of the Minister's brief.

Before I get off the subject of transport, could I ask the Minister a couple of other questions on it? Will he consider supporting a VAT rate of 0% for the private bus and coach operators? I am aware that he has been lobbied on this. There is a VAT anomaly in respect of Northern Ireland, as he probably knows. He should give the operators a level playing field and allow them to have some revenue retention in terms of their business model. Is the Minister working with the Department of Finance and the Department of E…

An advisory council-----

These past weeks and months have shown the best attributes of the Irish people and demonstrated beyond doubt that we are a caring and empathetic nation. From the first incidences of Covid-19, front-line staff across the country took on the challenge of doing all in their power to preserve well-being, while supporting industries ensured the continuation of our supply and distribution chains in food, energy and allied care services. The Government announced significant funding to support the reallocation of health se…

I am deputising for a colleague at short notice so I apologise in advance if I am not fully au fait with the Minister's brief. Regarding the town and village renewal scheme, I think everybody would agree that it is a great opportunity to develop towns and cities, but I wonder about the idea of drawing up the strategic plans around it, particularly for community groups. Has the Minister's office considered providing funding through LEADER or local area partnership groups to bring in strategic mentors to write these …