Can we get some fairness in how slots are allocated? Eight were allocated to Sinn Féin.

There is more than one Opposition party.

I thank everybody who has contributed to this debate and those parties and Independent Members who have indicated their support for this motion. In the view of the Social Democrats, this motion is very important. It sets out clearly the weaknesses in our employment protection provisions which give rise to the kind of low pay and poor conditions which, as a modern society, we simply should not tolerate. It also proposes means by which to address these weaknesses. The Minister of State spoke about the true picture of…

I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. The Social Democrats will not oppose the Bill. We are considering it in the most extraordinary of circumstances, at a time the economic shock from the crisis is being felt not only by Ireland or a small handful of other countries but by every nation around the world. Covid-19 has ushered in an unprecedented time of solidarity and that is a welcome by-product. That solidarity, which is a very welcome development, is unprecedented in European economic h…

My question relates to the availability of the flu vaccine and the adequacy of the supplies we have now secured for this coming season. It is extraordinary to think that last year more than 4,300 people were hospitalised with seasonal flu. That is more than the total number of people who have been hospitalised with Covid to date. While Ireland works to prevent a second wave of Covid, it is so important that we also put huge effort into ensuring that we reduce the impact of the flu in order to protect capacity in ou…

I thank the Tánaiste. I welcome the fact that there will be a promotional campaign to improve uptake. That is especially important among healthcare workers, as the Tánaiste stated. He referred to a quantum leap, which would be very welcome. Can he clarify the figures? Leaving aside the nasal drop doses for children, there will be 1.35 million doses of the quadrivalent vaccine. I understand that last year the figure was between 1.1 million and 1.2 million. This does not seem to cater for a significant increase from …

What is the estimate of the demand?

Have the additional doses been secured?

Is the Tánaiste confident that they will be secured and will be available before the onset of the flu season?

I have questions on a few areas but I will allow time for a response from the Taoiseach. Overall, the Revised Estimates do not have anything remarkable in them. The only standout figure is the €20 million for Covid-19 communications, of which €10 million or thereabouts has already been spent. There has been concern expressed about many of these Revised Estimates in that there are very few metrics to identify where the money is being spent and whether we are getting value for money. I hope this will be rectified in …

Will there be a Supplementary Estimate?

I am not arguing with that.

Will the Taoiseach consider establishing a citizens' assembly on property rights?

At the outset I congratulate the Tánaiste on his new post in what is a very critical Department at any time but especially in the current circumstances. I wish him well in his work there. We are considering the Revised Estimates in the context of three very major challenges. I refer to what has happened already this year in the context of an unprecedented shock to the economy. The second is the ongoing threat from the pandemic and the third is Brexit. The fact is that the backstop was dropped, we are likely to be f…

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and wish him well in his work. As the Ceann Comhairle said earlier, we all need him to do well. I am sure there will be a high level of co-operation as there was in the production of the Sláintecare plan. If we are on track and if we are serious about accelerating Sláintecare, he will have support across the board in doing that. The purpose of this session is to look at the Revised Estimate. To a large extent, this is looking at it after the event because much of the mo…

Given the time constraints, will the Minister move on to answering my other questions?

Will the system be in a position to respond to a second surge or wave of infections?

I congratulate the Taoiseach. The idea of the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, will take a bit of getting used to, but on a personal note I wish him well. He has waited for this for a long time. There is no doubt that today must be a very proud day for him and his family. I also congratulate the Cabinet Ministers who have been appointed today. The election of a three-party coalition Government is taking place in what are the most inauspicious of circumstances. As a result of Covid-19, the country is going through …

I want to make a few comments on Sláintecare and the programme for Government. There was a commitment in the programme for Government to "accelerate the implementation of Sláintecare". That vanished out of a later version of the programme yesterday but I gather it is back in it now. It sounds good to say "accelerate the implementation of Sláintecare" if we take that sentence for what it is worth because that is what is needed. Unfortunately, when one digs a bit deeper in the programme for Government and looks at th…

It is a complete and utter contradiction to say that the new Government will accelerate the implementation of Sláintecare and at the same time that the only financial commitment to it is to examine the period post-2022. That is entirely disingenuous and feeds into the view that the outgoing Government party, supported by Fianna Fáil, was never really serious about having a proper universal public healthcare system. That is deeply disappointing. I want to raise a few other matters. There is a general consensus, and …