That is just the Healy-Raes.

The Senator is hardly very objective then.

It is nice to see the Tánaiste. He is very welcome. To begin I will deal with those new restrictions announced on Friday. I will not play politics with Covid-19 and we should follow the science. I appreciate the fact the Cabinet has moved to provide supports that are very badly needed. I have a couple of examples for the Tánaiste. I spoke to somebody in one of the major hotels in Limerick who told me ten big nights had been planned over Christmas and that has now been reduced to two. It is a huge impact and we all …

It is nice to see the Minister of State. I thank him for coming in. We are going to oppose this Bill, as I am sure he would expect us to. I will outline the reasons over the next few minutes. However, I will welcome a couple of aspects of it because I want to be balanced and fair, if I can. I particularly welcome the ring-fenced funding for childcare. My union, SIPTU, has campaigned for this for years. I was part of its Big Start campaign six years ago. The fact it has managed to win ring-fenced funding is really e…

I ask the Acting Chairperson to tell his Fianna Fáil colleague to allow me to speak.

I know that I am hitting some sore points but that is okay. I ask the Minister of State to tell us why the Government has backed the special assignee relief programme that rewards existing millionaire executives with up to €110,000 each in tax relief? The Government has set this scheme in place now. The former Minister for Finance, Mr. Michael Noonan, introduced it originally and the Government has backed it again. Fianna Fáil backs tax cuts for millionaires while people who are struggling to pay their energy bills…

Well said.

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for the level of detail she went into with regard to the Bill. As she will be aware, Sinn Féin has tabled a number of amendments. When similar legislation was brought before the Seanad previously, we supported it. We will also support this Bill. At the same time, it is important that the Minister of State listen to what the Opposition is saying on the need for engagement, proper oversight, accountability and transparency when all of these decisions are being made. I wel…

Hear, hear.

Good.

Well said.

Hear, hear.

Well said.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, after line 33, to insert the following: “ “relevant statutory instrument” means any regulation made under the sections inserted in the Act of 1947 by— (a) this Act, (b) the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020; (c) the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020; (d) the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020; (e) the Health (Amendment) Act 2020; and (f) the Health (Amendment) (No. 2)…

It is a request that would benefit all of us so that we are seen to be accountable and to take part in a democratic process where we discuss and air these issues rationally and reasonably. It would help to enhance the Bill and shore up support for it. We also recognise the fact that sometimes we will not have that luxury and that is why in amendment No. 2 we have also stated that urgent recommendations can be made and subsequently approved following consultation and agreement with the Joint Committee on Health. The…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. There is a genuine difference of opinion here but I want to acknowledge the point the Minister of State makes about the Minister's offer to share information. That is something that would certainly be helpful but at the same time our position would be that the Act would still benefit from better Oireachtas oversight. It is not just the Act that would benefit; our Parliament would also benefit from that. At times there is a danger of us gifting issues to people on the …

Yes.

I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, after line 33, to insert the following: “Parliamentary oversight of Covid-19 regulations 2. (1) Every relevant statutory instrument made by the Minister shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas not less than 48 hours before they come into effect and— (a) where, before the date on which paragraph (b) would have effect, a resolution annulling the instrument is passed by either such House, the instrument shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of …

I pay tribute to Senator Moynihan for raising this matter during debate on the Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021 just a month ago. It is a little unfair on the Minister of State because she was not in the seat that evening. I also accept that it is a little unfair that the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is not here to defend himself. However, I cannot describe how frustrated I was when I gave him the opportunity to give an answer on the matter. I was happy to cede my time to allow hi…

I did not use inflammatory language.