On behalf of People Before Profit, I pass on my deepest sympathies and condolences to anybody who has lost a loved one, whether in this country or elsewhere. We have to do absolutely everything we can to minimise further tragedies of that sort as quickly as possible. I also want to pay tribute to health workers and other essential workers who are providing the services and protection we need in fighting this virus, and to all of those who are staying at home. That will become an increasingly difficult thing for peo…

We all understand we face an unprecedented threat to public health and to society. Our first priority must be to do everything we can to avert the tragedy and calamity that we see unfolding in Italy which, understandably, is striking fear into the hearts of many in this country and across the world. As others have done, I extend my condolences to everybody who has lost loved ones whether it is in this country, Italy or anywhere in the world. We must do everything we can to minimise that tragedy and protect people a…

I intend to share time with Deputy Mick Barry, with nine minutes and six minutes, respectively. With the Covid-19 virus we are facing a truly unprecedented and, quite honestly, frightening public health emergency that threatens our society and the health and well-being of vast numbers of people, especially our elderly and vulnerable citizens. We have to do absolutely everything to fight the virus - throw every resource available to us at fighting it - and protect those who could fall or suffer from its advance. Cri…

No.

The amendments that have been ruled out of order in our case and probably in others relate to who will be entitled to the €305 payment. I understand this is a charge on the Exchequer but it has to be debated. The public need to know that a decision has been made by the Government, which frankly I do not agree with. Every person who loses their job as a result of public health advice to stay at home and to socially distance, including a person with an underlying condition who makes a decision to stay at home and a p…

I have a minute and a half to do it.

People who are doing right by society and by others whose health is threatened by this virus and make the decision to stay at home or who as a result of public health advice have their workplaces closed are doing every bit as much as those who are diagnosed or encouraged by a doctor to stay at home and they should get the same payment. There should be a universal Covid-19 payment of €305, not a two-tier payment such that some get a lower payment given everybody is making an equal contribution by staying at home to …

I refer to another cohort that had not occurred to me; I am not sure whether it had occurred to the Minister. A 17-year-old young man called Ross asked whether the payment of €203 will be available to people under 18 who are working. He seemed to believe it will not but he and his family rely on that income. There are young people under the age of 18 who work part-time, and that money is critically important to them and their households being able to sustain themselves. I would like to think they will receive that …

The Bill, and this section, include extreme and draconian powers that in any other circumstances we would not consider giving to agents of the State. They are, however, necessary to deal with the public health emergency and the danger it poses to all our society. If we are to impose these draconian measures then it must be even handed but it seems there are certain groups on which the Government does not want to impose these draconian measures. Two of our amendments refer to them. One group is the non-essential ret…

What about the requisitioning of private capacity?

We cannot call a vote.

Are we not moving our motions?

Whatever about technical definitions of "draconian", these are very serious powers to give to the State. They are powers that could potentially be abused. They certainly must be reviewed. In other circumstances we would not accept giving a Government these powers. We are dealing with an extraordinary situation so extraordinary measures are necessary. People would wish to see anything done that would prevent the transmission of the virus, and they are right to do that. However, I do not understand why the Minister i…

I agree with the decision for the reasons outlined. Public health officials need to concentrate on addressing the crisis rather than spending unnecessary time at committee meetings. As I said at the Business Committee today, I welcome the Taoiseach's comments about briefings. There also needs to be provision, however, for parties, groups and whatever to put forward proposals in the Dáil that will be facilitated if it becomes necessary. For example, I believe there should be no two-tier system operating in the healt…

I wish to share time with Deputy Paul Murphy.

It is not, a Cheann Comhairle. It is my maiden speech in the Thirty-third Dáil, but actually it is not that either.

The EU's shame is on display in the Greek islands at the moment. Its pretence to be some bastion of progressivity is exposed with the harrowing and terrible scenes of thousands of desperate men, women and children fleeing the most horrendous circumstances of war, oppression, displacement and conflict and then being penned up in this way, subject to violence and living in the most appalling conditions. It exposes the horrible priorities and moral bankruptcy of the EU that we are going to spend €38 billion on beefing…

I offer congratulations to the Ceann Comhairle on his re-election and I offer commiserations to Deputy Naughten. While he failed to be elected he made some very good suggestions, which we should consider seriously. Many of us share his frustration with parliamentary questions, for example, those on health, which are batted from the Department to the HSE and take a long time to come back. He made some very useful suggestions in that regard. His appeal for us to always consider the rights of all Members, particularly…

On behalf of People Before Profit, I wish to say that we will support Deputy McDonald's nomination for Taoiseach. During the campaign, People Before Profit had stamped on every one of our leaflets and posters the slogan "Break the cycle of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael" and 100 years of two-party rule. In record numbers, voters responded to and echoed that call. We have an historic shift in Irish politics where, for the first time, the two major parties have considerably less than 50% support. It was clear on the doors…

-----to make an effort to establish a left minority Government to give effect to the demand for change and the demand to break the cycle of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rule.