Last week we celebrated International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Ireland has a proud record of unbroken service since 1958. I thank all those who have served and remember the 86 people who have died in service. The Minister of State talked about not being able to control what was being leaked. The big issue I found when engaging with those serving abroad relates to the lack of clarity coming from the Department on when they could expect to get home and when their families could expect to see them. It is because of the…

Last week, we witnessed the brutal killing of George Floyd in the US. The response of President Trump's Administration to the subsequent rallies against racism is nothing short of appalling and certainly not action in keeping with the leader of a democratic country. What action is the Irish Government going to take to show that we stand in solidarity with those who demonstrate legitimately against racism? Has the Tánaiste or his Department had any input into the 14-day quarantine that has been initiated by the Gove…

It is changing on 1 July.

We are supportive of the Revised Estimate. We are complimentary of the urgency and the speed of delivery with regard to the two schemes. I welcome the fact that clarification was provided earlier on the extension of the schemes and also to the fixing of the anomalies such as the maternity benefit but I want to raise wider issues with the Minister in respect of the Government response to this crisis. If we do not deal with these other issues with the same sense of urgency and speed, I believe we will be back here ag…

I am sharing time with Deputies Butler, Flaherty and McAuliffe. I will take six minutes and they will each take three. We are acutely aware of the economic effects of Covid-19. While public health is obviously the number one concern, if the right policy decisions are not made and the right supports are not put in place, we will not have an economy to ensure a sound public health system. We know who is advising with regard to health. Has a similar task force been established to advise on rebooting our economy? I wil…

I will be sharing time with Deputies MacSharry and Niall Collins. Last night on "The Tonight Show", Professor Sam McConkey reaffirmed the importance of a strong economy to maintain a strong public health system. Covid-19 will not go away any time soon. We must examine how the economy can coexist while not compromising the health of our citizens. The attempts by the Government to blame any further extension of the lockdown on non-compliance by the public are deeply unfair. The vast majority of the public understand …

The IMF is predicting the worst global recession since the Great Depression. Earlier this week, the Minister outlined the stark effect of Covid-19 on our domestic economy. The policies deployed today will determine the pace of our economic recovery. I will focus briefly on the SME sector, a sector on which the Irish Exchequer is heavily dependent. First, I have raised the issue of business interruption insurance policies umpteen times. It is clear there are insurance companies that are ignorant of their responsibil…

I am finishing now. This must be done by a new Administration. We need a new Government, and we need it fast.

Who will ensure that the forbearance measures concerning insurance that were announced last week will be implemented and the commitment will be honoured by the insurance companies? Regarding the business interruption aspect of insurance policies, it is disgraceful that certain insurance companies have written to their policyholders stating that they will not entertain their claims, despite the direction coming from the Central Bank of Ireland and indeed from the Minister's Department. Will the Minister consider est…

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this Bill on what is primarily a public health issue. We can never acknowledge or thank enough the people serving on the front line in our health service, shops and transport for the efforts they are making on behalf of the nation. I want to use the opportunity to call for any manufacturers who can help with the provision of protective gear for our public health workers to come forward and make this gear available, because it is needed. In Mullingar hospital last night, a senio…

I want to raise the points I made on Second Stage. I seek clarification on a number of aspects of the scheme. The scheme undoubtedly has many positive attributes and the Minister's intention is good, in terms of maintaining the link between employer and employee and encouraging employers to, where possible, keep employees on their books. However, Deputies have highlighted a number of concerns. One is who determines the inability to pay clause. There are very serious penalties if someone is determined to have had th…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this important legislation. I add my voice to the voices of other Members in saluting the valiant efforts of so many people on the front line in healthcare, the retail and haulage industries and in the Garda in ensuring the essential services on which each of us depend are available when we need them. When people ask what they can do to assist, the easiest thing we can do is adhere strictly to the guidelines of the experts. In doing that we will reduce the mammoth task tha…

-----at a time when we are giving clear guidance that it bring passengers home.

I raised the same point during Second Stage earlier on employers who do wish to top up the payment and are clearly prohibited from doing so. There is no cost to the Exchequer in enabling employers to do that. Will the Minister explain why this is the case? I raised this point on Second Stage. If childcare providers and others, who are in receipt of State subvention to operate their businesses make this payment, there is concern that if after six weeks they look for it to be paid back they will be told, "Well, you'r…

Membership of the EU has granted Irish businesses unhindered access to a market of more than 500 million people. EU membership has also established the State as a focal point for foreign direct investment. The recent European Council meeting comes at a very challenging time for businesses across Europe and Ireland. With increased trade disruption, tariff increases from across the Atlantic on key Irish goods and our nearest neighbour leaving the European Union, Irish businesses are facing multiple threats and need t…

I congratulate the Deputies who have been elected for the first time. I think also of the Deputies who stood for election but, for whatever reason, the electorate decided that they were not best placed to send them back here. Today is a difficult day for them. Today is a new departure, when all Members have an opportunity to speak on the first day of the Dáil. Normally it is only the people nominating and seconding nominations for the position of Taoiseach. It is good in a sense because it gives an opportunity for …

Without a sound economic base, we will not have the necessary resources to deliver the critical services that have been left behind for so many years.