In the programme for Government, I highlight the section on building stronger and safer communities on page 84. It states: Community safety is at the heart of the ongoing transformation of An Garda Síochána. The new Government will ensure that this will be a key part of our social contract with citizens. An Garda Síochána is enriched by its resilient links in the areas it works with and protects. There must be clarity regarding the protection of all our citizens, especially children, following Covid. It has come to…

I agree with everything the Taoiseach said but the best way forward in respect of this matter is to take an all-island approach. There should be a link to the passport number of anyone leaving this country by air or by ferry. This is the fastest way to police matters. Using the passport system to police the pandemic is the fastest way to track anyone leaving the country or coming into it. Be it children, parents or whomever, everyone should be tracked when leaving and when coming back. There should be a system to e…

As noted at the European Council meeting, in addition to the €1.824 trillion approved by the EU, there is €5 billion in the Brexit reserve. It is earmarked for unforeseen consequences in the most affected member states and sectors. Surely this will be passed on to Ireland. I hope that this matter is being examined by our MEPs in addition to what is required to meet the Covid pandemic. As I highlighted previously, it is essential that our pharmaceutical companies be consulted. They are fundamental in our fight again…

When I grew up in Limerick, at the time Roches Stores had a unit there. I remember as a young lad that the first escalator in Limerick was in Roches Stores. It was a treat to go in and to go up and down this escalator, as it was the first one. Roches Stores ceased business and Debenhams took over. Debenhams workers, some of whom were also Roches Stores workers, had as much as 40 years of service to Limerick. All they got was a text sent by Debenhams, saying thanks for all their help and that it would not be coming …

My question concerns the front-line workers who booked and paid for holidays last year that were to be taken this summer. The flights are going out but, according to the Government direction, people are not supposed to travel. Most are being responsible and not travelling. If they travel, they are told they will have to stay off work for two weeks when they come back. If they do not travel, they will lose the funds they saved up for a whole year to pay for their holiday. The front-line workers who kept us safe thro…

It is great to see €500 million being used for environmentally friendly projects. I note, however, that nothing has gone to agriculture, which is always being wrongly blamed as the cause of emissions in Ireland. Some €8.5 million is being provided for a gas project; €15 million is going to Irish Rail to reduce the number of diesel engines; €20 million is going to Dublin City Council for green heating systems; €4.5 million being provided for Tallaght district heating systems; €17.5 million is going to council street…

I will try and not take the full 20 minutes. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said earlier this funding is very welcome and wanted but it must be given in a responsible way. I have no confidence in giving funding to Irish Water as it has wasted what money we have had in the country to date. It put in meters throughout the country and used all of its funding but was able to keep back €500,000 to top up wages when the money was running out last year. This funding has to go into rebuilding Ireland. The Minister of State can see…

I am sorry but everyone else spoke at length. The Acting Chairman said he did not see me. I would like to get a couple of these facts out.

I thank the Acting Chair. All restaurants were closed for 105 days during this time. There was significant cash burning. Large hoteliers were out of pocket by €2,000 at day. Local authority charges need to be waived. This funding needs to be given to local authorities so they can waive the rates system to get our businesses back up and running. That is one way to do it. The money needs to be given back to our councils to invest in housing voids so we can put people back into our towns and villages and use the housi…

This oil Bill has already raised €3 billion in carbon taxes since 2010. The Green Party has included certain projects that its members want rural Ireland to pay for. Some €8.5 million is being provided for gas projects. Dublin City Council is to get €20 million for green heating systems. Some €4.5 million is being provided for the Tallaght district system, €7.5 million is being provided for local street lights and €1.4 million is being provided to improve the efficiency of heavy goods vehicles. Do Green Party membe…

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae and I are sharing time, with four minutes each. If this pandemic has taught us anything it is how we need to invest in our front-line workers. We can see it from all the front-line workers who came home and all the trainee nurses who helped the front-line services while getting paid during the Covid-19 crisis. Up to the outbreak of Covid, they did not get paid for the time they spent training. When the pandemic ends, the Government wants to stop paying them again. Trainees in the construction…

The importance of the Bill cannot be underestimated. Some 1.5 million people in Ireland are employed by the SME sector, which needs monetary help in order to remain viable. I understand the priority that needs to be given to increasing this fund. Compensation needs to be provided for the rebate of fixed costs and the losses endured by SMEs during the Covid-19 shutdown. The system needs to be simple to operate. An SME accountant can verify the loss of revenue and expenditure during the pandemic. The process can be a…

I acknowledge the work of the outgoing Taoiseach and the former Minister for Health during the pandemic. I congratulate the new Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the new Ministers. I have listened today to Members in this Chamber talk out of both sides of their mouths. We met Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Green Party and Sinn Féin but the only parties that wanted to talk about government were Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, even though they limited the amount of talk with us. Sinn Féin Members were ta…

I am sharing time with Deputy Mattie McGrath. I offer my deepest sympathy to the family of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who gave his life for the safety of others. May he rest in peace. Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act of 2009 has given us legislation on tackling organised crime throughout Ireland. Even through a pandemic, we have seen cases of individuals and gangs who continued to wreak havoc on our society. I can only commend the Garda on the unlimited sacrifice its members provide to ensure we …

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I understand that €540 billion was assigned to a recovery programme for workers and businesses in Europe, in particular to strengthen the resilience of the health system and promote innovation in it. How is this being monitored in Ireland? Are we proactively working with our stakeholders, including our wonderfully innovative pharmaceutical companies, to engage with this programme? If we are being rewarded for innovation, is the Government consulting the many Limerick-based pharmaceutical …

I actually give praise where praise is due. Well done on getting a seat on the UN Security Council. We are targeting as much funding as we can get, but how do we get it delivered more efficiently? It is taking too long to deliver funding to the likes of SMEs. The process is too complicated. What can the Government do to simplify it? Many people with experience around this House know how to proceed in this regard from a business perspective. If the members of the Government would like to come to us, we would have no…

That is the second time.

I realise that the Department has had a difficult time trying to work out a programme for schools in September and the transition from the pre-Covid period to now. It is safe to say that schools cannot eliminate the risk of infection but will try to mitigate it in line with whatever guidelines are given to them. Schools are awaiting the issuance of the new template. The one issue about which they are concerned is what monetary allowance is being given to schools to make them Covid ready. A number of my constituents…

I am sharing time with Deputy Mattie McGrath. There has been a 25% increase in domestic violence since the start of Covid-19 from the Garda figures. The figure from the national helpline of Safe Ireland is 39%. Safe Ireland has stated that the Department of Justice and Equality and the Garda were phenomenal during the Covid crisis and I commend them on that. They are now dealing with an onslaught of women and families emerging out of their homes seeking help. At a time when we had Covid and we had less traffic on t…

I congratulate Deputy Butler on her elevation. I congratulate the front-line staff who put the patient at the heart of everything that was done during the Covid-19 crisis. Having contacted the press office today in our area, I am delighted to say that the 68 emergency beds did not need to be used due to the early control of Covid-19. As we have just heard, however, some 38 people were on trolleys today. We have 68 beds, for Covid-19, free in Limerick and we have 38 people on trolleys. When are we going to open the …