I thank Senator Higgins for tabling the amendment. She tables a similar amendment to most of the finance-related Bills that come before the House. I can understand, to a certain extent, where she is coming from in arguing that we need this type of reporting. As someone who works in the SME sector, I have some understanding of how difficult and restrictive it is at the moment to access credit. Having tried to deal with the mainstream banks for the past 14 months in negotiation terms, I know it is very difficult to g…

I welcome the Minister. It is hard to believe this is my first time addressing him since his appointment.

Yes. Having worked directly with the Minister in the last Dáil and sat through thousands of hours of committee meetings, I know his personal commitment to solving this complex issue and the energy, commitment, passion and drive he will bring to providing solutions. Ten months after his appointment, we already see signs of the results on the ground: the largest capital investment in the history of the State and the continuing increase in the delivery of social housing in every town across the country. There is curre…

Before I begin, I apologise that I must leave immediately after speaking as I have a committee meeting to attend at 2 p.m. I also wish the very best of luck to all the businesses that are reopening their doors today as part of a gradual process. It has been a challenging time. We are looking forward to opening ourselves on 2 June as our hotel reopens its doors. This would not have been possible without the Government supports that we have been given over the past very difficult period for businesses. The viability …

That is all right. We will forgive the Leas-Chathaoirleach this time.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I am sorry for having to cut him short earlier.

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for her commitment to the Seanad. It is appreciated.

Thank you again Minister for your commitment in the House.

I, equally, take this opportunity to welcome the Tánaiste to the House. The last time I spoke to him I was on the other side of the aisle asking him questions on employment in Arklow. I want to put on record at this point my thanks, from a hospitality industry point of view, for the supports that have been given to the industry without which we would not be surviving here today. Originally, this debate was to be on the medium to long-term effects of Covid on my industry but last night's announcement has probably br…

I thank the Minister of State for his statement and for his commitment to this House.

I welcome the Minister. This is my first time to engage with her with regard to tourism. I will read a few extracts from my hotel's old diaries: Ate a hearty dinner and departed fully satisfied with the treatment we received - W.H. Adams. Stayed ten days at Glendalough, noted for the cleanliness and the kind attention it offers its visitors. On the night of Tuesday last, the 11th, a heavy snowfall occurred and Lugduff and the surrounding mountains next morning appeared like the Alpine landscape. Arrived from town a…

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I also welcome the review of the national development plan. Senator Gavan mentioned that he was looking for a link to Shannon Airport. He may get it more quickly than the one to Dublin Airport at the rate we are going for that particular link. He made another point about now being the cheapest time to get money. For someone who is in business and is being asked to borrow more money, it always has to be paid back at some stage and we must remind ourselves of that, even though w…

I refer to the issue raised by a couple of speakers earlier, namely, the closure of 103 branches by Bank of Ireland. Regrettably, there are three branches in my county in Rathdrum, Tinahely and Carnew. My first thoughts go to the employees and their families. It does not matter how much one knows of what is coming down the road, it is still a shock when it is announced. In looking at this as an attack on rural Ireland and the impact of that, we must look at the consistent erosion of services in rural Ireland. Today…

The question I am raising is on the role of State bodies in sustaining the tourism product but also on providing services to the wider society. There is an ongoing review of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, NPWS, and its remit. My question also covers the remit of the likes of the Office of Public Works, OPW, and the National Monuments Service. At the core of the remit of all the agencies is protection. We all know now that they have to perform a role that must cover more than protection. It must include prom…

Three years ago I sat with the Minister of State's predecessor, Deputy English, discussing this very issue. It is important that we try to get a solution to it.

I thank the Minister of State for attending the House. I think he is here more often than I am.

I welcome back the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House. She is also in the House more often than I am.

The Minister of State has four minutes. I am sure she is well aware of this project.

I also welcome the Minister of State back to the House and thank her for her commitment to it. She has always made herself available to answer our queries and I know of her personal commitment to the role she has taken on as Minister of State. My question is for the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and it is to ensure dialysis patients are given the same priority in the allocation of Covid-19 vaccine as nursing home residents and staff, given their similar mortality levels. Everyone in this House is co…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I acknowledge that the limited amount of vaccine received is being rolled out and administered, and that the issue is about supply. That is why I put down the Commencement matter today. There is clear evidence in relation to the cohort I am referring to that there is a 25% mortality rate, and it should be at the same level as nursing home residents. I know it is not within the remit of the Minister of State to tell me how quickly a review can be done. We would all love t…