I welcome the conversion of the Deputy and the Sinn Féin Party to affordable housing, especially as, during the lifetime of the previous Dáil, Sinn Féin voted against a Fianna Fáil motion on affordable housing. The programme for Government-----

I have the floor for just a minute. I know the Ceann Comhairle is very anxious that I do not overstay my time in responding to this question. The key point is that the programme for Government is very comprehensive on the matter of affordable housing.

It is a core part of our policy to enable people to get to a position where they can afford houses. The State will be far more involved as a result of the programme for Government in providing the wherewithal, either through the local authorities or the Land Development Agency, to provide affordable housing. It is something to which we are very committed. There are a number of schemes outlined.

The Deputies can take it that the new Minister will pursue this with great energy.

The European Banking Authority has clarified the matter of application of interest in cases of payment breaks that people have received from banks. It is worth pointing out that approximately 140,000 payment breaks have been issued in respect of approximately 78,000 mortgages. These are popular initiatives and many people have availed of them and found them very helpful. The Minister for Finance will now engage with the banks on this latest clarification from the European Banking Authority and the comments of the G…

It is a desire of Government to accelerate the roll-out of the national broadband plan and to encourage and facilitate remote working, for example, which I believe could be a big game changer over time in terms of both the quality of life for people but also enabling greater economic activity in rural Ireland. I have seen it at first hand with the Ludgate development in Skibbereen, for example, and the way that acted as a catalyst for employment growth and facilitating companies to develop and grow out of that high…

To be fair all round, the pandemic unemployment payment was at the time, and all parties leaders were engaged in consultations with the then Government on it, an extraordinary intervention in terms of supporting people's livelihood and incomes.

I know that. There are limits to what the State can do in terms of expanding that payment or wider supports. The next phase will involve a targeting of resources to make sure we can get people back to work and create alternative employment opportunities for people who have been laid off. Obviously, we will be borrowing for quite some time, but there is an obligation on us all to make sure that what we borrow enhances the productive capacity of the economy in the medium to longer term. That will mean targeting the f…

My understanding is that work is under way regarding the regulations on public transport. The point the Deputy has made is a very fair one. In my view, masks have to be worn on public transport and should be worn more frequently in enclosed areas, particularly in shops. All of us have to get into the habit of wearing a mask in enclosed environments and on public transport in the interests of safety for our fellow citizens.

That is a fair point. In most nursing homes that I am aware of families are allowed to visit their loved ones, albeit in restricted time limits and circumstances. In regard to the specific case the Deputy referenced, my understanding is that HIQA has compiled a report regarding that individual case. The overall point the Deputy is making, however, is that people need an advocate or a family member to speak up for them to make sure their well-being is optimal. That cannot be argued with and it is something we will e…

I thank the Deputy for the points he has raised. That legislation will not be brought forward in this session, but we will see how soon we can bring it in. I will check that with the Minister for Justice and Equality. The more general point the Deputy has made is apt given the role gardaí played in the implementation of the various legislative measures around Covid-19. It has to be said that the number of attacks on gardaí was very low in comparison with the volume of engagement and work done by them. Nonetheless, …

I cannot see the Deputy in the hall. I will take what he says on board. As I said yesterday, my own view on drug and alcohol abuse where children and young people are concerned is that the most effective defence is the development of self-esteem and self-respect in children at the earliest age. Programmes designed to facilitate that are the most effective approach. That is what psychologists and the people involved say. Highlighting one particular drug does not tend to be effective in the long term. That said, I am…

The Government will be considering this in the coming week, in advance of the date the Deputy has identified. It must also take legal advice on the issue of notices to quit. I accept that people need certainty on that. Research on the rent arrears issue will inform our assistance to people in difficulty in that situation.

That is a commitment in the programme for Government. Some work still has to be done to ensure that when the statutory commitment is made, the capacity to deliver it efficiently and properly is available. The legislation will probably be introduced in the autumn. We will finalise the autumn legislative schedule in due course.

I will have the commitment to those over 70 and the associated legislation examined. There is also legislation under way concerning access to GP care for children under 12. I will check if something can be done before the end of July and I will come back to the Deputy.

I will have the question of an inquiry and an apology examined and discuss it with the Minister for Health. I will come back to the Deputy and the House on this issue.

With the co-operation of the House, we hope to have the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 passed before the end of the month. As I said to Deputy Martin Browne, that encompasses both access to GP care for children aged 12 and under and increases in the gross income limits for medical card eligibility for persons aged 70 or older, in line with the budget announcement of 2020. We hope to get it through before the end of July.

The answer is "No". The Deputy presented this just prior to this session. We need to be very careful about annulling anything without the proper detailed consideration and examination in the context of Covid-19. Further transmission of the virus in affected areas is still possible. We need to consider any change to legislation concerning Covid-19 in the round. We certainly should not do it in a hurry via a motion tabled minutes before a session of the House. We have to be far more considered in changing legislation…

I certainly will talk to the relevant Department and have the issue examined to see if we can get it resolved. Just transition is a very important part of the overall climate change agenda.

First, I certainly will have that matter examined. From my experience, one of the greatest difficulties in getting schools built has been around site acquisition, planning and other issues locally. I do not know the full history of this particular school since 1999, but there clearly are issues and there must have been hurdle after hurdle put in the way. The situation is not acceptable for the pupils, families, teachers or the community. I will ask the Minister for Education and Skills to give me a full report on t…