Obviously, it is better not to make a mistake in the first place than have to put up a hand to admit making a mistake. The Minister has tried to paint the Government as noble for having admitted the mistake in this case. However, the Government knew about this mistake a week ago. The Taoiseach, who has made a big play of education during this Government, knew about this mistake a week ago. The Minister for only good news stories, Deputy Harris, who did not appear at the press conference yesterday, has not been avai…

If the third speaker arrives, I will be happy to give way. This is a serious illness. It is a significant threat to life and health and to the country. We need to do all we can to make sure we reduce the numbers and be careful and cautious. I hear both sides of the debate about this on a regular basis. The truth of the matter is that nobody knows what will happen in the future with regard to Covid-19 so we need to be careful. It is an absolute disgrace that the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, did not see fit to …

I withdraw the unparliamentary language but it is an absolute disgrace that the Minister is not here. I believe everybody will agree with that.

We are not working together.

We are being ignored. We have no opportunity to work together.

We are being excluded.

On a point of order, I welcome that all the speakers so far have said we need a proper discussion about this very serious issue. It would be a shame to go through the Second Stage debate without anybody with an opposing view on the Bill getting a chance to speak and with all the views exactly the same. The slots were filled before the debate even started. It is highly unusual for people who arrived on time not even to get a chance to put their names down. I suggest that we might extend by 20 minutes and give people…

The Standing Orders do not allow the slots to be filled-----

-----before the debate on the Bill starts.

A Chathaoirligh-----

The Ceann Comhairle's office-----

-----asked one of the staff to come down here-----

-----to speak to you.

This is-----

It would be a shame if a debate of this importance-----

-----started in this way.

Will it be shared between the two?

One of the first responsibilities of any nation is to make sure no child grows up hungry, without a roof over his or her head and without access to healthcare and education. These are very simple and basic objectives that any republic should hold as its first priorities. The truth of the matter is that these are not the priorities of this State. That can be seen in the radical numbers of children and people who live in poverty, not just people who are out of work but also the working poor who are living in poverty …

I will add my voice to the points on NPHET. It is the most powerful organisation in this State currently and the decisions it is making are having a significant impact on hundreds of thousands of people around the country, yet Deputies have not had an opportunity to tease those questions out and hold NPHET to account. I know of Deputies who have asked journalists to ask NPHET questions, which is an incredible situation. We need the opportunity to make the decisions that are being taken transparent and open.

The Taoiseach's parliamentary party meetings-----