They are all being put in that position.

They are all being put in that position.

What about the Taoiseach's words six weeks ago?

I will send the Taoiseach an invitation to that meeting. He can meet a few student nurses. They are good people to talk to.

As a member of the budget scrutiny committee we were engaging with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council today and it pointed out that the significant expenditures related to Covid-19 and, previous to that, Brexit, that led the Minister to defer the plans to put €500 million into the rainy day fund were part of a trajectory of debt, even though it approves of the Minister's decision to make them available, as do we in the Opposition, for which we would have to pay the piper at some point in time. The way it put it was …

In the programme for Government, the Government committed to returning the support of healthcare workers for their willingness to protect us all. Last night, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party betrayed their promise to healthcare workers, in particular student nurses and midwives, by voting to delete the People Before Profit-Solidarity motion calling for those workers to be paid. For that betrayal, shame on Fine Gael, shame on Fianna Fáil and shame on the Green Party. I have been inundated since last night …

-----to make the Government hold to its promise in the programme for Government to reward our front-line healthcare workers, including student nurses and midwives, for their work in protecting us all.

The Government took the money.

The amendments are in my name but I am hoping to hear from the Minister before I get a chance to respond.

There is a cruel irony in the exclusion of certain groups of people, whose incomes and employment have been hardest hit by the pandemic, from a scheme which is called the Covid restrictions support scheme. The threshold for this support is turnover being down by 25% to cover the ongoing costs which businesses have. I refer to insurance, fuel, maintenance and repayment costs. Since March, I have been highlighting two cohorts who have been the most impacted. Musicians have not seen their incomes impacted by 25%, or 3…

I was hoping the Minister would respond to the direct point I am making about that group before I make my final contribution.

Okay. The same argument that I made for the musicians and the crews, who I want to emphasise are behind the musicians, applies to the taxi drivers. The taxi drivers' income is either non-existent because is not worth going out on the road or, for those who go out on the road, is down approximately 70%. They have repayments on their cars. How are they supposed to make them? A taxi driver has to put fuel in his or her car to drive around the city looking for non-existent fares. How are they supposed to pay for that? …

It is being pressed. On a point of order, can I ask what happens if we call a vote now because there are seven committees meeting in Leinster House and Deputies, certainly, in the case of our group, are attending them? There is no way many of those Deputies would be able to make it over for a vote.

I am merely pointing out that many Deputies would be disenfranchised if we called a vote. I am minded to call a vote but it is a little unfair on all the Deputies attending committees in Leinster House. Maybe we had not envisaged it. We are in a difficult position. It is a bit of a problem.

In the interest of fairness to others who have amendments and to the Deputies who would not be able to make it, I have no choice. Maybe it is a matter for the Business Committee to consider, that is, that the possibility of votes clashing with committees meeting in Leinster House is a real problem. However, I have to be reasonable and, therefore, I will only press the amendment to a voice vote.

As the Ceann Comhairle knows.

I move amendment No. 60: In page 29, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: "12. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on a levy on large profitable companies to meet the costs of the Covid Restriction Support Scheme and other supports to business.".

I move amendment No. 68: In page 45, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “22. Within three months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on the extent to which producer companies in receipt of section 481 tax relief are complying with requirements to provide quality employment and training, with employment legislation, taking direct responsibility for their employees and trainees and acknowledging the service of employees who have worked for them over many years and in product…

Can we stop the clock?

This amendment concerns the approximately €80 million in tax relief that is given to film producers every year under section 481. It is a considerable relief to support the development of the film industry. However, as the Minister knows, the specific condition attaching to this relief is that, in order to access the relief, the film producers must provide quality employment and training and must comply with all relevant legislation on workers' rights. They must also take responsibility for their employees and trai…