The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be aware of my views on co-operative movements. She herself raised a question about the issue the first time I took oral questions, at which stage I confirmed to the House, and I am happy to do so again, that work has commenced on comprehensive legislation relating to the co-operative movement. That work is under way, and it is my intention to work with the Department to ensure we can bring it as speedily as possible to pre-legislative scrutiny, with an opportunity for all Members to …

Amendment No. 9 has been ruled out of order. The right of access requires consultation with stakeholders, and it is not appropriate to include it in this Bill. I will not make a confirmation or commitment to support any legislation in the absence of seeing it. I wish to take this opportunity, however, to refer, as I did in my concluding remarks on Second Stage, to an assertion that was made about the HSA only having 67 inspectors. I wish to clarify this because it was raised in the Seanad and I promised Deputy's co…

I take it everyone can hear me through my mask. It was produced by a local company in Westmeath, Mergon, if anyone wants to acquire one. I will just plug that company. I am pleased to be in the Seanad as Minister of State with responsibility for trade promotion, digital and company regulation and to have the opportunity to present the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020 for the consideration of the House. The Bill will provide for the first phase of measures intended to mitigate the impact tha…

I thank all Senators for their kind words. I hope they will always be as kind to me when I come before the House in the future. I will appreciate it for today. Senators Ahearn and Lombard referred to the July stimulus package. It is an ambitious project and of real substance. It comes to €5 billion, or €7 billion if one takes into account the credit guarantee scheme. Some people are disappointed that not everything has been achieved. It is, however, the singular biggest injection to support business in the history …

I thank Senator Murphy for his kind words. He mentioned the July stimulus package and I will not go back over that again. Senator Seery Kearney mentioned the good work done by voluntary directors and made a good suggestion on an information campaign so people are aware. Many people serve on voluntary boards, and I have done so myself in the past, and they are not fully aware of their obligations. Perhaps an association or organisation such as The Wheel would be able to run such a campaign. If the Senator has a sugg…

I thank Senator Gavan. I should have mentioned Debenhams workers, since the matter was raised by a couple of Senators. We cannot introduce legislation today that will deal with the situation retrospectively. I support the workers. As a previous speaker said, the Minister of State, Deputy English, the Tánaiste and I have met them. The workers raised important matters of concern which deserve and are receiving thorough consideration. It is important that all stakeholders, including political representatives and the G…

For clarification, the scope of the current review is wide-ranging and encompasses issues from registration with the Registry of Friendly Societies to operational governance and winding-up issues relating to co-operatives. Based on the review, a general scheme of a co-operative societies Bill is being prepared which will provide co-operative societies with a distinct legislative identity reflecting their co-operative ethos, reducing the number of members required to form a co-operative, revising the provisions on d…

The amendment has been ruled out of order. I hear what both Senators have said about rights of access for trade unions. In order to introduce such an amendment, stakeholder engagement is required. In response to what was said about meat plants, I accept there was an issue and corrective action was taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In some instances, it has been deemed that the cluster did not originate in the factory but outside of it and was brought in. I do not in any way wish to dimini…

I acknowledge the important issues raised in the motion. I thank the proposers and those who have contributed to this debate. It is important and right that this debate should be held. Together with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister of State, Deputy English, I met representatives of Debenhams workers this morning and heard directly their views, concerns and expectations. This was a constructive meeting. We discussed many issues and options, which are under further consi…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this very important debate and I thank the Social Democrats for tabling the motion. It gives us an opportunity to debate where we are going with workers' rights and sustainable employment. I, too, acknowledge the essential work that has been carried out by so many different workers in the public and private sectors during the Covid-19 public health emergency: our front-line healthcare workers, the people who work in our supermarkets, our home carers, people working through…

I will reply to this question. The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1893 to 2018 provide the statutory regulatory basis for the formation and general operation of industrial and provident societies, primarily co-operatives, in Ireland. The current legislative framework is largely Victorian statutory code incorporating a number of antiquated provisions. Following a root and branch review of the existing legislative framework, which included conducting a public consultation on the operation and implementation …

The Deputy spoke about a history of 60 years, but I am not 60 days in this role. I have said that a substantial body of work has already been undertaken. The Deputy rightly referred to the Private Members' Bill that went through the Dáil in 2018. It was referred to the committee on business and enterprise and the committee conducted a review and produced a report on the Bill. That has fed into the work that has been ongoing in the Department. I ask the Deputy to judge me on my track record. I have given a commitmen…

I reiterate that the Government acknowledges and recognises the good work that is being done by various co-operatives throughout the country, be they in the agrifood sector, group water schemes or housing co-operatives. Their work is recognised and it is on the basis of that good work that my Department has already started the work to bring forward the necessary legislative change. That legislative change will recognise the distinct identity reflecting co-operative ethos, reduce the number of members required to fo…

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its agencies have been focused on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the challenges presented by the arrival of the Covid-19 virus. I recognise the difficulties and concerns that events businesses are facing and those businesses that rely on events companies for trade shows, exhibitions, events etc.. to promote and sell their products. Ensuring that measures are in place to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 at organised and ticketed even…

If you acknowledge me-----

It is quite hard to make sure we are seen when we are so far away from one another. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We are supporting the increase in the Estimates. Clearly, SMEs have suffered greatly in the last number of months. Our SME sector is the backbone of this economy. It is a sector which employs in the region of 1 million people. The forced closure of the economy and our SMEs for the sake of public health has left them in a precarious situation. It is so important that the July st…

I add my voice to the congratulations to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. He comes into the role with a wealth of experience. It is very important that the new Minister can hit the ground running. Of all the Departments within the new Government, this Department perhaps has the most challenges. It is welcome the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, knows what needs to be done straight away. I also add my voice to the thanks to the people who work on the front line. If anyone was in any doubt, last night's programme hit home th…

I have three concise questions and I will leave time for the Minister to answer them if possible. The Department sought expressions of interest from schools for the July provision programme, and despite numerous schools applying, certain schools within my constituency are now being informed that only special educational schools or schools with special educational classrooms can participate. One wonders why the Department opened the applications to all if this restriction was going to be in place. Will the Minister …

I want to add my voice to those of the previous speakers regarding some of the measures needed to address domestic violence. It is fair to say Covid-19 has had a major negative impact across society but perhaps one of the groups most adversely affected comprises victims who suffer domestic abuse. These victims can be men and women, and we may forget, on occasion, that there are men out there who have suffered as well. The Garda indicates a 30% increase in domestic abuse in certain parts of the country, and we know …

Article 132 of the withdrawal agreement clearly states that an extension must be requested by 1 July and the UK has been very clear that it will not seek an extension. In fact, even if the EU seeks an extension, the UK will not agree to it. Business are already suffering because of Covid-19 and a no-deal Brexit will be even more detrimental on the back of Covid-19. Many of the supports and packages that were originally put in place have been repurposed to deal with struggling businesses under a Covid-19 arrangement…