In terms of outdoor recreational infrastructure, I think the specific brief is around cycleways and walkways. I may be on the wrong track but I am also thinking of waterways. We had two initiatives in Waterford, one on a blueway and another on amalgamating old houses and river walks. This is an area for future tourism development throughout the country around which a separate initiative could be built. Perhaps someone in the Department could try to advance that.

I wish to start by expressing revulsion on behalf of the Regional Independents Group at the death of George Floyd as a result of police brutality. I agree with the Tánaiste's comments to the effect that we must look at our record of racism in this country. I thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our ambassador to the United States, Mr. Dan Mulhall, for their assistance with my representations on behalf of Mr. Peter Smyth, a Waterford graduate who was repatriated two weeks ago after several weeks in …

We offer our condolences to family members who have been bereaved by Covid-19 and again give thanks to front-line healthcare workers and all those in the healthcare sector who are doing so much at this very difficult time. On 24 April in this House, the Minister expressed to me his wish to see the second Waterford cardiac cath lab built, with a construction tender to be awarded as soon as possible. Last Thursday in the House, the Taoiseach also committed to seeing this project get over the line while acknowledging …

I acknowledge the continuing impact of Covid-19 on our most vulnerable. Our debt of gratitude to our front-line and community healthcare workers grows ever greater. I want to update the House on some people from Waterford who are supporting our national efforts to overcome the many challenges the coronavirus epidemic is presenting every day. I thank Commandant Dr. Patrick Kelly of the Irish Defence Forces. Dr. Kelly is an expert in infectious disease management and has been supporting my office in recent weeks in a…

I thank the Taoiseach for those comments. Rather than asking his Department to project-manage this, if the Taoiseach could release the funding, that would speed up the whole process immeasurably.

While we are here again this evening, I acknowledge that families are bereaved and family members are suffering. We again thank our healthcare workers who are doing so much during these very difficult times. When we talk of the arts in Ireland, we are speaking of some of the central foundations of our culture, our Irishness, and the historic and contemporary creative spirit that has fuelled our Celtic identity and moulded the diverse society that is Ireland in 2020. For many years, our country has strode the world …

I will speak and then raise some issues and ask the Minister of State to respond at the finish. On behalf of the Regional Group, I wish to continue to extend sincere condolences to the families and relatives of those recently bereaved because of Covid-19. We offer solidarity for those in recovery. I congratulate our wonderful healthcare workers for their efforts. Our continuing debt of gratitude to them can never be overstated. 2020 is presenting the most significant of challenges to our national economy. Nowhere i…

I begin by expressing my condolences to all families who have been recently bereaved because of Covid-19. A heavy price continues to be exacted on our population. Also, on behalf of the Regional Group of Independents, I applaud the efforts of our national medical and clinical care staff and wish a full and speedy recovery to those diagnosed in hospital or home care settings at present. I wish to highlight some areas of innovation and potential in ongoing Covid-19 management which I hope the Department of Health wil…

I also ask the Minister to put pressure on for the development of our second cath lab in order that we advance it to a construction tender. It has been lying around for quite a number of months.

I also support the business of the Dáil to continue. It is very important that we should remember we are asking front-line health people to go in to work in the most arduous of circumstances to continue their duty. I do not think it is fair that any Member of this House should be cocooning at home. People need to remember that Teachta Dála means "messenger of the people". We need to carry the people's message here very forcibly and the business of the House must not be interrupted.

I am sharing time with Deputy Verona Murphy. I would also like to express our sincere condolences with the families that have been bereaved as a result of Covid-19 and I express our solidarity with people who are attending hospital. Public representatives have both a duty and a responsibility to represent the needs of constituents when national policy is being discussed. On the criticism from some quarters of the Dáil sitting today, I believe my presence is required to speak to the needs of Waterford and the south …

I acknowledge the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Ireland in recent days and thank them for continuing to build on the friendship between our two countries. The warmth and generosity of spirit being shown to them by the Irish people is appropriate and underlines the close relationship our two islands share. I am sure they are aware of the economic relationships between the UK and Ireland and the challenging conditions that a hard Brexit might create between our two states. It is in our joint interests…

I congratulate you, a Cheann Comhairle, on your re-election. I was elected to represent the constituency of Waterford. I also represent the people of the south-east region. I will not be supporting the nomination of a Taoiseach tonight as a protest against the fact that the south east and Waterford suffers significant discrimination in the provision of cardiac services at University Hospital Waterford. There are five national cardiac centres in the country and the one in Waterford, which treats 500,000 people, is t…