The Constitution is meant to be a sacred document and we are meant to be the custodians of it. The Government, by its actions on the advice of NPHET, is destroying the pub, dance and arts industries and is treading on the Constitution. I saw a report last night on the horribly-named wet pubs - I do not know who gave them that name. During the last lockdown, many such pubs made great efforts to have food prepared in their pubs or to have food brought in. This was done with guidance from the HSE and in line with the …

It is unconstitutional.

The Taoiseach should prove it.

The Taoiseach is pitting one against another.

That is balderdash.

I support the previous speakers. I think the scheme should be reviewed. An independent assessment should be carried out. I too have been here for a number of finance Bills. We keep pleading for this year in and year out. There was a group outside the Dáil today with 56 black balloons representing the number of homeless people who have lost their lives in this city this year. It is a truly shocking figure. That is replicated up and down the country. We never used to have homelessness in Tipperary but now we have it …

I support Deputy Naughten's amendment and must declare that I am a self-employed person myself. Remote working has come into its own since lockdown but there are difficulties with it for many reasons, including the lack of broadband and other facilities. Workers should be encouraged to work remotely and employers should get some concessions or supports to put in infrastructure for their employees and their families. In families, if husbands, wives or partners are working from home, this represents a drain on servic…

I too am disappointed with the Minister's response. This is a no-brainer. Things are different at the moment because of Covid, but before the pandemic one could not travel or get accommodation in the cities. We see the homelessness crisis and the other pressures. This is the case in many of our big cities but the capital is completely bogged down. We need supports to allow people to live and work in the country, at least on a blended working basis. With regard to Project Ireland 2040, the county development plan fo…

-----and Tipperary. I did not mean to say that. We want to stay in Tipperary.

Maybe you will and maybe you will not. We will give as good as we get. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an bua againn. We want to be able to live and the countryside is a better place for that. We are losing businesses, families and people. What do we have? Afforestation. Now we will not even be allowed to cut down forests. It is a case of hell or to Connacht and Famine times again.

I too make what is a badly needed appeal. I do not know how the Minister does not get this. As Deputy Boyd Barrett has said, surely he knows about this from the taxi drivers, musicians and artists. He might not know from the countryside the plight of self-employed Readymix truck owners, the self-employed drivers of flatbed and tipper trucks. He might not know about the minibus driven by its owner. There is a plethora of groups that do not have a rateable premises and they do not qualify for the scheme as a result. …

I too am disappointed with the tone of what the Minister has said. To listen to Deputy O'Dowd, one would think we were all criticising. We have welcomed this approach. We have worked to help our constituents and businesses. We have helped and encouraged them to draw down from the scheme. We appreciate what is being given but there are businesses marginally outside the limit. I am appealing for flexibility from the Revenue and everyone else. There must be some latitude. People had no desire to be in this situation. …

The Rural Independent Group came to the conclusion some weeks back that there was no grounds for impeachment which is why we are opposed to any motion. This is simply grandstanding and game playing. We had a debate with the Minister last week, albeit limited. I respect the legal advice we have got and thank the Ceann Comhairle for organising it. We are only holding up the show. The Members could remove the motion and it would not come up every week because it is only grandstanding and showboating.

Deputy Bruton has been in government for too long.

I have been contacted by several credit unions, including Clonmel Credit Union, which is in a very healthy position. The members ensured a €3.6 million profit this year, €1.7 million of which is to be distributed back to the members. They are the people who create the credit union with the wonderful staff there as well. The Central Bank can change this overnight to allow a virtual AGM to take place. Audit accounts have been submitted since early November but they have not got a result. Will the Taoiseach ask the Mi…

I support this motion and compliment the Minister for putting forward this fund. We are global leaders in horse racing. We are very proud of that in Tipperary, and where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows. Deputy Cairns has just left the Chamber. I have no truck with what somebody in the greyhound board remarked about the Deputy. It was horrible. Such comments are not needed in this time. We need support and regulations, however, and we must root out any semblance of cruelty to animals which exists. If Deputy Cairns …

I am sharing time with my colleagues. I too am delighted that the Minister has stayed in the Chamber to listen to Deputies. My delight was premature. Tá sí ag dul amach anois. Cén fáth? I will tell all of my in-laws in Monaghan and Cavan that she ran away when I stood up to speak. I am glad she stayed for most of the debate anyway. It is a pity when Ministers do not do so. I fully support the motion. We need certainty around this issue. The Taoiseach can mutter in the Dáil that Fianna Fáil and the Government is doi…

When will the Minister bring forward an amendment to the Finance Bill 2020 to provide for the existing medical criteria in primary legislation to allow for primary medical certificate assessments to recommence?

That sounds like good news but the Supreme Court made its decision on 18 June 2020, more than six months ago. There has been significant delay and inconvenience to people. I understand the scheme is still operating and that all persons and suitable charitable organisations that currently access the scheme can continue to do so, but the problem is in respect of new applicants. I am aware of one such new applicant. She is an elderly lady of aged 79 years who suffers from severe scoliosis and COPD and is unable to wal…

What does the Minister mean by stating it is not a scheme for people who fall into ill-health? People who were good and healthy but get scoliosis or a similar serious medical condition, which means they are unable to walk or get into a car, qualify for the scheme. Obviously, that is a medical decision, rather than a decision for the Minister or myself, thankfully. He sounds a bit harsh in that regard. The woman I am talking about has not left her house once during the eight months of the Covid-19 pandemic. She is s…