I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann: — acknowledges the exceptional challenges faced by many workers across Ireland as a result of the global pandemic; — acknowledges the Government’s commitment to further enhance the protection of employees in a way that does not unduly impede enterprises in the conduct of their business; — resolves that the Companies (Protection of Employees’ Rights in Liquidations) Bill 2021 be deemed to be read a second time this d…

I need two more minutes or even a minute, with your indulgence, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I will not be here. The amendments provide for a specific employee representative on the committee of inspection, which can be established to oversee liquidations. Phase 2 of the CLRG work programme, which is currently under way, looks at addressing the practice of trading entities splitting their operations between trading and property. It will report in quarter 3.

I confirm that it is my full intention to honour the commitments made in the programme for Government and will do so over the coming months. It will not take the full 12 months.

I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the floor of the Seanad. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who cannot be here. I too acknowledge the good work that the Brennan family are doing in their advocacy and highlighting the positivities of this vaccination. In 2009, the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, recommended HPV vaccination for girls of 12 and 13 to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer as adults. In September 2010, the HPV vaccination programme w…

I thank Senator Conway. I reassure him that I will raise this matter with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. I reiterate that the academic year 2019-20 saw the highest uptake of the HPV vaccination programme since 2015 and 2016. That is a positive and encouraging development. It goes without saying there have been challenges in this latest academic year but the HSE is committed to offering the recommended immunisation to school-aged children with as little disruption as possible. That has recommenced and I hope it will…

First, I thank Senator McGreehan for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this important matter in behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. The Government is fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service. As the Senator is aware, BreastCheck, along with other cancer screening programmes, was temporarily paused last year due to the impact of Covid-19 on both our health services and communities. While BreastCheck resumed in October 2020,…

I thank the Senator. She has made a strong case and I will relay her suggestions to the Minister. To be fair to the Senator, she acknowledged the extra €10 million invested in the National Screening Service this year. That demonstrates the commitment of this Government to national cancer screening services. I, too, compliment Councillor Teresa Costello on the really good advocacy work she has been doing. It takes guts and commitment for somebody who has come through what she has to turn a negative to a positive. Sh…

I thank Senator Higgins for raising this topic and affording me the opportunity to address the House about this important and timely issue. I have listened carefully and agree with many of the points that Senator Higgins has raised. The Senator will undoubtedly be aware that international trade is a competence of the EU under the treaties. In exercising that competence at the WTO, the European Commission engages with member states, including Ireland, through a variety of committees and working parties, including on…

I reiterate what I said already. I acknowledge that this is a critical issue and I believe it is morally right to ensure that, regardless of where people are in the world, they have access to vaccines. We need a fair and equitable system. I firmly believe, as does the Government, that no one is safe until everybody is safe. Apart from being the morally right thing to do, it is also right from an economic perspective. Protecting one half of the world while leaving the other half behind will do no good for anybody. W…

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. We know that Covid-19 has imposed a severe economic shock which poses many challenges across the economy and society more broadly. Its impacts are particularly strongly felt in the sporting and community and voluntary sectors. While level 5 restrictions include the closure of many business premises in non-essential retail, personal and business services and construction, the restrictions have also impacted on the services provided by the community and voluntary sector a…

The Deputies have made the valid point that these community groups provide an invaluable service right across each of our constituencies. The Deputies have made their point well tonight about Ballyfermot. The Government is committed to supporting the people, businesses and communities in this difficult time. I reassure the Deputies that my Department and those of my ministerial colleagues in other Departments are keeping programmes that are administered by the Departments under constant review. I alluded to the new…

I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for raising this important topic and affording me the opportunity to factually address the House and contradict some of the misinformation that is circulating in relation to CETA. The EU's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada is designed to benefit EU and Canadian companies through improved trade flows in support of increased employment for our citizens. The elimination of tariffs, reduced non-tariff barriers and simplified customs procedures that flow from CETA will …

From a domestic law perspective, no transfer of judicial power from the Irish courts to the ICS tribunal is provided for in CETA. CETA expressly provides that the agreement is to be interpreted by the ICS tribunal in accordance with the Vienna Convention, along with other rules and principles of international law applicable between the parties. Accordingly, domestic law is to be treated by the tribunal as a question of fact, not law. In that regard, it is bound by the interpretation of the Irish courts. The Governm…

This is a very important subject because tourism is a vital indigenous economic sector. In 2019, before the pandemic had wrought its effects on society, tourism was worth more than €9 billion to our economy through visits from overseas tourists and the fares they generated and domestic tourism. It supported 260,000 jobs throughout the country. Tourism is a unique sector in that it supports jobs in remote rural areas and bustling city centres. Nevertheless, it is a fact that it is particularly important for many are…

I take the Senator's point on the banking announcement this morning. I was also disappointed to read the news about branch closures in my constituency. I will certainly raise these points with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe. The Government is working with the tourism sector. The Senator referred to key representative bodies which have been working hard and keeping in regular contact with the Government giving suggestions on what is needed to support the sector. Last Friday, I met with the Tánaiste and Min…

First, the Tánaiste sends his apologies to the House. He is attending a virtual event this morning as part of local enterprise week. I attended a virtual event this morning with the LEO in Donegal, "Spring Back, Step Forward", which focused on building resilience in the companies it supports. It is an opportune time for the Senator to raise this issue this morning. The local enterprise week is a huge opportunity for small and microenterprises to learn about the variety of programmes and initiatives that are there f…

Responding to climate change can seem like an enormous, insurmountable challenge. However, like any business response, it begins with breaking it down into small actionable steps. The programme for Government commits to a 7% average yearly reduction in the overall greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade combined with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill which commits us in law to move to a climate resilient and climate neutral economy by 2050. We are determined and we are working tow…

I thank Senators Fitzpatrick and Seery Kearney for raising this important topic. I extend my sympathies to those workers who have suffered from such appalling violence in the course of their work. No one should have to contend with such violent situations. In particular, I offer my sympathies and those of the Government to the family and friends of Thiago Cortes, the Deliveroo cyclist who tragically died in a hit-and-run accident last August. Although An Garda Síochána is heavily involved in supporting public healt…

It is not clear under what criteria a person would be deemed to fall into this third category of employment where he or she would neither be an employee nor self-employed. We would essentially be creating a lesser category of employee who we acknowledge is not self-employed but to whom we would not afford the same full suite of employment rights to which he or she is currently entitled. It is important to reiterate that the Department of Social Protection is engaged in revising and updating the code of practice to …