To be clear, my understanding is that the Department issued a statement in early February that everybody between 65 and 66 years of age would be eligible for the payment. Can the Minister of State confirm now that this is not the case and that they must have 13 weeks of paid PRSI contributions in the year they reach 63 or 64 to qualify for the benefit because if they are signing for the credits, they do not count? Can the Minister of State tell the House the number of people this will impact and is he able to give …

I want to raise the issue of changes to the opening hours of bars and nightclubs which are to be included in the 2021 justice plan of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. This is welcome news. We need reform of our opening hours as the tourism sector will play a huge role in Ireland's recovery from Covid. The current opening hours are a drawback in this regard. Asking tourists to leave a licensed premises at 11.30 p.m. on a Sunday night is a little short of bizarre. I also note the intention of the Minister to…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Since 2014, there has been a 40% reduction in the number councillors, electoral areas have significantly increased and additional duties involving local community development committees, LCDCs, climate action committees, the local property tax, LPT, the setting of rates, etc. have been introduced. If one wants to know the life of a councillor, then one must walk in his or her shoes. For 11 years until last year, I was a councillor and was very proud to be one. During my…

As all Senators will be aware, over two years ago, on 17 October 2018, legislation was passed to combat and stop harmful drinking. The legislation, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, was praised by international policy experts as being model legislation that was well structured and evidence based. One of its main provisions was minimum unit pricing, which is a targeted measure designed to reduce alcohol consumption. It would enforce a set cost below which alcohol cannot be sold. This is not the case currently. It wou…

I was on it.

I welcome the motion and recognise its importance. I compliment Senator Currie on her great knowledge of this issue, which she has raised for a number of years. From our point of view, the motion fulfils a programme for Government commitment in which it is specifically pledged to developing a strategy for remote working. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought hardship and loss in so many ways across Ireland. Perhaps one of the few bright spots to come from this hugely challenging period will be the development of remote…

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Peter Burke, to the House and I thank for his time. He is familiar with Galway and I am hopeful that will help the case. In Irish terms, Galway is a massive geographic county, inclusive of four offshore islands. It is the second largest county by land mass in the country. It takes two and a half hours to travel from west Connemara to the county border in Ballinasloe. It is too large an area to be served by one counci…

The Leas-Chathaoirleach is taking up my time. An allocation of €1 million was assigned to Galway County Council last September. In areas where synergies and savings can be made, for example, library services, fire services and salaries, this is already happening and this can continue in other areas, if justified, on a financial basis without the need for a merger. In the consultation process there was an almost united front on the part of elected representatives that this merger should not proceed. Aside from local…

I thank Minister of State, Deputy Burke, for his response. What I am asking for is that the Government would focus on addressing the funding issues which were identified previously. As my colleague Senator Murphy outlined, we want more people in our city and county involved in the political process. As the Minister of State knows, the census was deferred to this year, but one is talking about in the region of 250 to 275,000 people even though all councils have in the region of 150,000. As I have outlined, there is …

I wish to address the landmark decision handed down by the High Court last Friday, which rightly found insurance companies must honour policies that provided cover for business disruption. While it should never have needed to be the subject of legal action, it is welcome that justice has prevailed, and the decision has been accepted by the insurance firm in question. One of the publicans I spoke to who took the case paid a premium in excess of €240,000 per year. Similar large premiums were paid by the other three i…

I want to speak today about the impact lockdown is having on our education structure. Understandably, most attention in the last number of weeks has been on those preparing for the leaving and junior certificate examinations. We now need to give more consideration to the impact on those currently in primary level education. Irish and international research has shown the impact at this level can be very significant and particularly severe for those in marginalised communities. For primary school children, the lockdo…

I welcome the fact that Senator Victor Boyhan is the Acting Chairperson for this debate. His contribution on the mother and baby homes last week was certainly one that I took on board and was upsetting to all, including the Senator. I acknowledge it this afternoon. Naturally, this is the first time I have spoken to this matter in Seanad Éireann and I begin by stating my full agreement with the Taoiseach's apology. The State failed these mothers and babies and we must confront that difficult truth rather than turn a…

Along with my colleagues I want to thank the staff of the House, Martin, Bridget and the team, who have been very welcoming since the first day I arrived here last April. I wish all my colleagues a safe, peaceful and happy Christmas. Senator Casey alluded to the hospitality sector. Generations of my family have been in the hospitality sector in Galway. What is happening at the moment is frightening. Major issues are arising with regard to mental health and the well-being and livelihoods of families. I want to raise…

I will be brief out of respect for other Members. This is straightforward. I was a councillor for 11 years. The reality is that we are losing young and ambitious people from local government because they just cannot give the commitment that is required. This is causing untold difficulties. I believe every Member has great respect for local authority members and the work they do, which we know at first hand. The majority of Members have been members of local authorities. Councillors must be respected. The reality is…

Does the Senator have an amendment tabled?

I echo what has been said and compliment Senator Craughwell on his work on this issue. In fairness to the Senator, he has raised it for a number of years. In Galway, we had young councillors, particularly in Galway County Council, who only served from 2014 to 2019 and left it at that because the pressures of their jobs meant it was not feasible or manageable to continue. I spoke to a Member who served in this House for nine years. As we are all aware, politics is a difficult business and there are good days and bad…

I wish to bring a matter to the Minister of State's attention. Senator Casey just outlined part of it. The CRSS was a crucial piece of budget 2021 and provided businesses with certainty and necessary supports, which was especially important during the lockdown. More than 13,000 businesses have already received support under the CRSS. As the Minister of State is aware, the hospitality sector is facing difficulties. For hotels in Galway and beyond, the prohibition on leaving one's county has created considerable issu…

I welcome the Minister of State's comments about the CRSS. I think he realises how vital it is - no more than supporters across the House like Senator Carrigy - that the review is done in January. Hopefully, we should be able to have an input into that. My next point is very relevant to the hospitality industry. The temporary reduced VAT rate of 9% applies until the end of December. I take it that this will be extended for a minimum of six months. It is important that we send out the right message from this House.

I ask the Deputy Leader to call the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, before the House at his earliest convenience regarding unfair dismissals legislation. I would like the legislation, and the 1997 Act in particular, to be reviewed and amended. I raise this issue having been contacted by a constituent. To put the matter into perspective, he had 36 years service with a global organisation that has in the region of 9,000 staff. He was in the top 100 of those staff. The Cathaoirleach may…

Last Thursday, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, appointed members to the tourism recovery oversight task force. More than 100,000 people are employed in restaurants and bars across this country. Although they may not be the first thing one thinks of when it comes to tourism, bars and restaurants are a key component of the tourism sector, with four out of five visitors citing Irish pubs as their number one tourist attraction. We are all aware of the huge s…