I echo my colleagues' calls on screening. On the turnaround time for the results to come back, we have heard stories of women having to wait weeks and months on end without any clarification on their tests. This is important when we talk about screening. I want to remember all of those who lost their lives to Covid-19 and the terrible impact this has on families and friends, including not being able to spend the last hours with loved ones, not being able to say goodbye, and the deep sense of grief of those who cann…

Fianna Fáil welcomes the opportunity to address the House on heritage during National Biodiversity Week and having just celebrated World Bee Day yesterday. UNESCO has pointed out that 89% of all world heritage sites are either totally or partially closed. The heritage sector in Ireland, like all other sectors, has faced closures and job losses. Most facilities under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service are closed to the general public, and our historical houses, castles, estates and gardens lie empt…

I wish to raise the issue of women's healthcare. We learned this week that both BreastCheck and CervicalCheck were paused for the month of April. That is understandable in terms of the pandemic we find ourselves in, with the requirements for social distancing, PPE and all of that to be taken into consideration. Equally, we have to consider the thousands of women who have missed out on that all-important screening. Will the Minister outline to us today a comprehensive plan for how a catch-up will be carried out for …

I am sharing time with Deputies Jackie Cahill and Christopher O'Sullivan, who will have five minutes each. Covid-19 has had significant ramifications for our economy and the livelihoods of every person living in the State. It is difficult to think of a sector that has been hit as quickly or as harshly as those working within the creative industries. The closure of our arts centres and exhibition spaces has meant that artists have no outlets to show or sell work. The closure of theatres has meant that actors and pro…

I thank the Minister. The two aspects of childcare I will address are the provision of childcare services in any programme for Government and childcare for front-line and healthcare workers throughout this pandemic. The ethos of a programme for Government must be to meet children's right to a quality service in policy, in provision and in practice. Before Covid-19 we saw 30,000 childcare providers and workers march outside this building protesting a crisis that already existed in the sector. With more than 60% of w…

I pay my deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones in this global pandemic. The efforts of our health workers have been truly inspirational, yet we heard this morning on "Today with Sean O'Rourke" that the Labour Court deal for nurses is behind schedule. I hope the Minister is dealing with that because as we know, these have the inspirational men and women at the forefront of this pandemic. I thank our doctors, nurses, paramedics and home support workers, as well as everyone on the front line, who…