I do not know if it is a matter of a lack of co-ordination or a lack of honesty from the Government when the Taoiseach says repeatedly that there will be no cliff edge for income supports for people in sectors impacted by the pandemic where they cannot earn a living or work at all. On the other hand, the same people who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, receive notice or announcements from the Department to the effect that the payment will be cut completely in September if the rate of the pa…

I am telling you what I have been told.

They are being taken from them in September.

On the earlier question relating to dialogue, it is a fact that the Taoiseach met taxi drivers and that the Minister is engaged with musicians and entertainment people. The Taoiseach either does not know, which is dreadful, or he is being dishonest. According to the Department of Social Protection, the PUP will be withdrawn from those whose PUP rate is reduced on 7 September to €203 and they will be told to go on jobseeker's allowance or to sign off the PUP. Therefore, they cannot earn that extra bit of money to wh…

As I have said to the Taoiseach many times, an important component of developing co-operation on the island and, ultimately, achieving what many of us hope to achieve, the ending of partition and a united Ireland, is having a quality all-Ireland national health service with the capacity to deliver for people. We have to learn the best lessons from one another and address the deficiencies in different parts of the health service. One positive lesson we can take from the North relates to the recent decision to pay fr…

There was an announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that there are going to be changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 in order to replace rent pressure zones and the 4% limit with a review based on the consumer price index. Does the Tánaiste agree this is not good enough given the already unsustainable rents people are paying? In the rent pressure zones, we have seen 20% increases over the past four years, with people paying €2,000, €2,500 and €3,000 a month, which is complet…

-----which can be set at any level whatsoever and will almost certainly be set at the same unsustainable levels they are now.

A Cheann Comhairle, hold on a second. I came in here prepared to contribute. I have been sitting in my office watching the debate. The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, is jumping the queue. There are two Deputies here to speak. It is not fair.

In about 45 minutes' time.

I was listed to speak in about 45 minutes' time.

No. Hold on a second-----

There was supposed to be a Social Democrats speaker, two Government speakers and more Sinn Féin speakers.

I was sitting downstairs waiting for my slot.

I was downstairs watching this debate and waiting for my slot.

I was watching it extremely carefully. Do not dare insult me like that. I was watching it very carefully. I was extremely surprised to see Deputy Tóibín stand up-----

-----and I came straight up as soon as I discovered that people had not bothered to turn up for their slots.

I am asking the Ceann Comhairle to be reasonable. There is plenty of time and a shortage of speakers. I am asking the Ceann Comhairle to allow the two Deputies who have bothered to turn up to speak to do so.

I am here and Deputy Michael Collins is here.

Thank you.

I appreciate that. I know the Ceann Comhairle does not disagree with this because we have discussed it, but it further underlines the point about the change of the speaking order enforced by the Government, which guarantees this sort of uncertainty. The Government insists that it has multiple slots before some of us get to speak and then no one from the Government side bothers to turn up. It is further confirmation of the sabotage of debate in this House. We will support this Bill because it provides for an extensi…