On the section, if we are going to see the changes we need, the Government needs to embrace genuine investment in the public sector that changes people's lives, particularly those of front-line workers. We must do better by them.

It is nice to see the Leas-Chathaoirleach in the Chair and I congratulate him again. I welcome the Minister of State and I congratulate him on his reappointment. This pandemic poses an existential threat to thousands of small businesses and microenterprises throughout Ireland. Microenterprises and small businesses represent the inner core of Ireland's indigenous economy. They are the beating heart of our communities and the building blocks of our local economy. They are the hairdressers, mechanics, tradespeople and…

I support Senator Dooley’s call for a debate on Shannon Airport. The experiment of an independent Shannon Airport has failed miserably and we urgently need that debate before any further attacks on the terms and conditions of the workers in Shannon Airport. Today I want to call for a debate on the pay and conditions of our front-line workers. We have seen tremendous support and recognition of their work but I have to ask how much this Government really values the work of these front-line workers. I could give any n…

Go raibh maith agat, Acting Chairman. I will begin by welcoming everybody here, old colleagues and new. I congratulate Senator Norris on a very fine speech. I propose that Seanad Éireann nominate my friend and comrade, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, for the position of Cathaoirleach. Senator Ó Donnghaile hails from the working-class Short Strand district in east Belfast. He is a former councillor for that city and was elected as the youngest ever mayor of Belfast in 2011. He has distinguished himself as a superb publi…

Congratulations first of all, a Chathaoirligh. I wish you well in your post. I look forward to working with you, and to your new ideas, energy and input. I have no doubt you will do a fine job. I also congratulate the new Leader of the House, Senator Doherty. I wish to put on the record again my gratitude to all of the staff here in the Seanad for their courtesy and patience. Today, it strikes me as being appropriate to mention a few people who will not be in this Seanad but who did such tremendous work in the prev…

The Tánaiste is very welcome. It was very strange travelling up to Dublin today from Limerick to find there were no cars on the road during rush hour. Obviously, that is a very good thing in that it shows that people are listening. What we are facing though is still shocking. I commend people from all parties for the effort they have made, in particular the Government for its response to the recent crisis. Sinn Féin is determined to play a constructive role. We will demonstrate that today in the amendments we have …

I want to address amendment No. 22. I welcome the Minister. Sinn Féin tabled this amendment yesterday but in the meantime, an amendment from our colleagues in People Before Profit was passed, which we supported. It was amendment No. 7. Does that amendment have legal effect to protect people on licence? If it does, then we are happy to not pursue amendment No. 22.

I thank the Minister for the clarification. It is clearly not clear just yet. Our concern is that there may be people under licence or with informal rent-a-room arrangements who are not covered by this protection. I am sure it is the same across the country, but in our constituency office in Limerick one often meets people whose marriages have broken up later in life who are in informal arrangements. Can the Minister give any assurance that these people are covered by the legislation?

I want to contribute generally on this section. Is that allowed?

That is perfect.

This section deals with employers and wage subsidies. I want to highlight an issue for the Minister. Is he aware of the crisis in respect of travel agents? Travel agents across the country are facing bankruptcy because they are having to pay refunds to people who have booked holidays but the airlines and cruise operators are refusing to offer any compensation. They are in breach of European law in this regard. Other members of my party and I have been inundated with queries and concerns about this issue. This wage …

There was also the issue of pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, for people living in the North.

He spoke on the wage subsidy scheme but not the entitlement to PUP to benefit people living in the North who have lost their jobs in the South. That is the specific inquiry I have.

I would appreciate that.

The Minister can understand why we put forward amendment No. 60. I would like to have clarity on this issue. I had queries just this morning and it is a natural concern. People are asking if they will be protected in terms of their ultimate redundancy entitlements. The Minister can see that what we have proposed is very straightforward. Amendment No. 60 states: "Any time spent laid off or on short time as a result of measures referenced in subsection (1) shall not be considered a break in service for the purposes o…

I move amendment No. 60: In page 34, to delete line 29 and substitute the following: “(5) Any time spent laid off or on short time as a result of measures referenced in subsection (1) shall not be considered a break in service for the purposes of calculating redundancy entitlements in the future. (6) In this section—”.

We will press the amendment, please.

I wish the Minister well. Any Cabinet or any organisation is always better with a Tottenham Hotspur supporter in it. Am I correct in saying that the Minister is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter?

I wanted to clarify that. He looked a little concerned. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your courtesy and fairness throughout the past four years. You have done an excellent job. I thank all the staff here. I thank all colleagues on all sides and all parties for their courtesy and, indeed, their patience at times. I wish everybody well in this difficult period. Let us keep safe and keep well.