I was about to ask which question this refers to.

The numbers do not make a difference in me getting to the material. I can deal with the Deputies' questions and I thank them for raising the matter. I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 71 together. I have raised the matter with the chief executive officers of all the banks and my officials continue to raise it. I have passed this view strongly to the banks and some have now indicated publicly the same view. Participation in a wage subsidy scheme should not, in general, preclude somebody from being able to get a…

I will continue to follow up on this matter. It is very important, not only for those directly affected who are looking to draw down a mortgage but also because the programmes that we have in place now will be in place throughout much of 2021. It is important in the context of our mortgage market continuing to operate and mortgages continuing to be issued, that broad schemes which will continue in some format into and for most of 2021, are not an impediment to people accessing a loan. It has to be done on a case-by…

We will do so. Many of the decisions on the granting of a mortgage were made at a time when the country and the world were very different; things have changed now. I know Deputy O'Sullivan is not advocating an irresponsible approach to these matters. The case he is making is that if there is every prospect of an employer continuing to be viable in the future, that should be taken into account when a person is looking to draw down a loan for which he or she qualified in the recent past. I understand that point and w…

I thank Deputy Gould for raising this matter. I engage with the credit union movement regularly and since this terrible disease arrived on our shores, I have made a point of meeting the leaders of the main credit union organisations. I assure the Deputy that I will ask them to continue to be aware of the vulnerability of some of their customers and members at this difficult time and of the importance of treating them appropriately so that they can avoid having to resort to illegal moneylenders. I am also considerin…

The very reason we introduced the EWSS and the PUP was to protect the incomes of all, but particularly the most vulnerable, as we deal with the ravages of this terrible disease. The biggest action the Government can take is to put in place direct measures to support the income of families at this most difficult time and we have done that. The PUP has made a decisive difference to those who need help the most. In terms of how we will deal with the issues raised by the Deputy regarding the post offices and credit uni…

The Government will be bringing forward proposals in this regard. These will be effective and will deal with issues relating to the legality of moneylending and the interest rates charged. I represent and engage with constituents who are dealing with the matters to which the Deputy has referred. The Government is implementing a significant number of policies to protect those families as we come towards a Christmas that will be particularly special. What we have done with the pandemic unemployment payment, the natur…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I express my full confidence in the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar. I have served in government with the Tánaiste since 2014 and knew him for many years before that. The personal and political qualities I have known in him in that time have been apparent again in recent weeks - his openness, honesty and accountability; his genuine commitment to advancing the public interest; and his willingness to acknowledge a mistake. Leo Varadkar's politics are those of decency, progress and doing the right thing by our country. His …

I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." When the budget was announced three weeks ago, I said that there was no such thing as certainty in the current circumstances and that we must recognise the risks and ongoing challenges. It is fair to say that events in those three weeks have shown that pandemic-related uncertainty will be with us for some time to come. The Covid-19 crisis has proven to be enduring and we will be living with its effects for some time to come. That is not to say that we should give u…

I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the Seanad today to contribute to the debate on budget 2021. As I informed the Dáil yesterday, this year's budget has been prepared in circumstances that are without precedent. The outbreak of the coronavirus has hugely impacted individuals, communities, societies and economies throughout the world, and our country is part of this. Economic activity in the Irish economy is projected to fall by around 2.5% this year with modified domestic demand, a better measure…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and thank Senators for their contributions. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, will be in the House for the afternoon to respond to other points Senators will raise in that debate. I am going to respond to a point made by each Senator and thank them all for their contributions. While I will deal with individual points, it is important to frame the budget in terms of where we are collectively. It has become the case that many difficulties our count…

I will wrap up now.

The three party leaders are focused on trying to make the right decisions for our country. Senator Chambers made the point about the increase in carbon tax and how we are looking to do that. We want to do it gradually with all of the gains from that change in carbon tax being used to deal with the issues to which she referred. On Senator McGahon's contribution, there was indeed a wide array of measures in the budget yesterday to deal with the green issues he touched on. I want to again recognise the way Senator Ahe…

When I presented budget 2020 we confronted the main challenge then facing our country, a hard Brexit. INTRODUCTION This year, while we continue to prepare for Brexit, we are also responding to the worst global pandemic in a century. We live in an era of great uncertainty and increasing risk. Overcoming these challenges in the interests of our fellow citizens is the central task of this Government. However, it is not enough that this budget which I present with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy …

The banks and the Government are aware of the great challenges that are facing so many. We have put in place and released the supports that made a difference to so many at such a crucial time. Payment breaks were applied to 157,000 customer accounts over the past six months. Those related to mortgages, personal loans and SME loans, and they were a source of considerable relief to customers at a time of great uncertainty. Approximately 89,000 of these payment breaks were granted to mortgage customers. Almost 37,000 …

I have a responsibility and duty in this regard which I have discharged. It is by discharging this duty and responsibility that 89,000 breaks were granted to mortgage holders who needed them in the first place. Since then, we have seen almost 37,000 of those deciding they do not need the payment breaks, and that they are able to honour their loans in full. What Deputy Doherty has just done is a typical Sinn Féin response. What he has put out here, on the floor of the Dáil, is part of the truth. Is he going to go on…

I am representing my party and I am the Minister for Finance in the Government which has at all times sought to do the right thing by those who are facing such difficulties and those who are experiencing the crisis of Covid-19. Deputy Doherty is at it again. He is referring to Italy but, in the comparison he is making, will he point to the fact that, during the moratorium in Italy, only repayments on the principal were suspended while interest payments still had to be made? He also made a comparison to Spain. As I …

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As he is aware, this is a very important scheme, the cost of which was, in 2019 and excluding motor tax, €72 million. To repeat what I have said, this scheme is important for many and I understand the many demands on it. It is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger, and it is open to certain organisations. To qualify for relief, an organisation must be entered in the register of charitable organisations under Part 3 of th…