I extend my condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones to Covid-19 during the past week. I offer my support to those who are battling illnesses and I wish them well during this period. I also thank all front-line workers for their continuing heroic efforts in the battle against Covid-19. I particularly thank the gardaí for their efforts during the crisis. In my constituency of Louth and east Meath, and my home town of Dundalk, the presence of the gardaí has been welcomed. The manner in which t…

If the Ceann Comhairle would give me time, he will understand why I am asking this.

I hope he will give me an extra minute for that please. If over 20 people were killed on a building site, the Health and Safety Authority would be involved. It is likely that the Garda and various other State agencies would also be involved. The point I am making is that in those situations there is a clear protocol in place, but in the situation of the Dealgan House Nursing Home there was no such protocol for families. That is what is most stressful for these families. This is not a blame game. The families simply…

I am sorry but as there are only 20 seconds remaining, I ask the Minister to, please, urge the Cabinet to have a public inquiry into the Dealgan House nursing home. Will he, please, answer that question?

Coming from a Border county, I know the devastating effects that Brexit will have if we do not put in place the necessary measures to deal with it. There are still so many unanswered questions. I am deeply concerned that its effects could be disastrous on a Border town like Dundalk. Last week, I raised the different approaches to deal with Covid-19 on both sides of the Border and the devastating effects of that. The Border area now has the highest number of recorded cases of Covid-19. I hope this is not a sign of t…

I come from the Border area, where people are concerned about what is happening in the North and in the South, and the different approaches on both sides, especially given the high rate of the coronavirus in the Border areas. With the bank holiday weekend approaching in the North, people are afraid that a big wave of people will come from the North to the South and vice versa . Will the Tánaiste tell us what is happening in that regard? While the Tánaiste commented on the issue earlier, it is disappointing that an …

We are losing time. Can we carry on?

I would like to pass my condolences to the families and friends of those who have sadly passed away as a result of the Covid-19 virus. I can only imagine the hurt and pain people must be going through right now. Many family members and friends in my constituency of Louth have lost loved ones. The hardest thing to cope with is the fact that they cannot have traditional wakes and funerals. I personally know the difficulties those people face because I cannot pass on my condolences to them during this period. Recent n…

The country has been in effective lockdown for five weeks. I do not think I will be the only person to say this today. The people have responded to the crisis with great resilience and spirit, which can be seen in a way the numbers have been controlled to a certain degree. What most people are now looking for is a plan for the easing of restrictions and a return to normal life. I know that this is a difficult situation but I feel that people have the right to know what the plan is and to have a possible timeframe f…

At the HSE briefing yesterday, I asked if testing could be increased in the Border area in light of the fact that numbers are spiking there. To my disappointment, I was informed that there were no plans to increase testing in the Border area specifically. I was informed that the same level of testing is being carried out countrywide. I do not agree with this approach. Why would one carry out the same level of testing in Kerry, where the numbers are lower, as in Louth, where the numbers are higher? Surely we must pi…

I have spoken to many business owners in Dundalk and surrounding areas. While the vast majority fully support the Government in its approach to date, they are worried about the long-term effects. One of the main concerns relates to the support and assistance that will be given to businesses to implement social distancing measures for customers and employees once they reopen. The support should not only be financial, it should also be advisory in nature and indicate how to implement strong social distancing measures…

With so many deaths in nursing homes, I have been contacted by many of my constituents who have loved ones who got the Covid-19 virus in nursing homes, were transferred to hospitals and have recovered. The hospitals now want to transfer those people back to the nursing homes. These families are very concerned and want to know what assurance the Minister can give them that it is safe for their loved ones to go back to the nursing homes where they got the Covid-19 virus in the first place.

My last question concerns seasonal workers. Some 189 workers came in from Sofia last week on a Ryanair plane. They walked through Dublin Airport, got on buses and were distributed around the local areas. Some of them arrived in Termonfeckin in County Louth. The HSE restrictions state that these people have to go into self-isolation for 14 days and be restricted in their movements. These workers have been seen walking freely through villages and towns in Ireland. What did the HSE do, or was anything done to ensure t…

I welcome the opportunity to speak. First I give my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of all of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19 and give my sincere thanks to all of the front-line staff who have worked Trojan hard over the last number of weeks. There is no doubt we are living in unprecedented times. An invisible virus is attacking us that has no regard for age, race or colour and which does not recognise borders. As a nation we are trying to fight this invisible enemy and I hope we are winn…

We stand here today facing what probably will be the biggest crisis any of us will ever face as public representatives or, indeed, as citizens. Covid-19 is here and represents a challenge that we must overcome, no matter what that entails. The Bill is aimed at putting in place measures that will help us, as a nation, fight this deadly virus. On that basis, I assure the House that as a politician, I will fully support whatever measures need to be put into law to help us eradicate the virus. I am pleased that all par…

I have been contacted by League of Ireland football clubs, some of which provide 40-week contracts. Some of the clubs will try their best to pay some of the players, but a lot of the clubs cannot afford to do so for the simple reason that if there are no matches, no revenue comes in. Will the Minister clarify the position of the League of Ireland players? Will the clubs get back the €203 if they do pay them for a short period?