I am sharing time with Senator Clifford-Lee. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo inniu. Déanaim comhghairdeas léi agus lena clann ag an am iontach speisialta seo dóibh. I wish to extend a warm welcome to the Minister this afternoon. It is my first opportunity to address her in her new role. I wish her well. She will be working alongside the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue. I have no doubt they will get on like a house on fire. I am aware both of them have had meetings with a number …

The leaving certificate class of 2020 and their families are eagerly awaiting the results of their examinations. Many of them hope to attend universities and colleges in this city and other cities throughout the country. This third level academic year will be like no other that has gone before it. I heard the heads of some universities recently state a university hall that would normally accommodate 250 people will now be able to accommodate only 50. Some students may be lucky to attend college two days a week with…

The leaving certificate results are due out in the next few weeks and, as we all know, it is a very stressful time for students and their families, even more so this year with Covid-19 and all that students and their families had to put up with and the stress surrounding this time. I understand school principals have expressed concern as to how the results will be communicated this year in light of Covid-19. Normally, at 9 a.m. on the day of the exam results, students and family members would call to the school to …

The measures announced by the UK Government yesterday, including cutting VAT on its hospitality and services sector from 20% to 5%, have set alarm bells ringing across the Border counties in the last 24 hours, from Donegal right across to Louth. The measures introduced by the UK Government yesterday will be in place, I understand, until 12 January 2021. Businesses in Cavan, Monaghan and other Border counties currently have a VAT rate of 13.5%. We are now asking those businesses to compete against other businesses f…

Today, I want to raise the plight of community, sporting and voluntary groups in our society. Unfortunately, their fundraising activity has been negatively impacted by Covid, which arrived on our shores last March. These groups are set for another serious hurdle as their lotto and bingo licences are due to expire in the coming months. The cost of these licences is significant to a local group, be it a GAA club, soccer club or any community organisation, with a renewal cost in excess of €500. This is a huge amount o…