-----just as we did previously also. I do not know how many times I have stood up here and answered questions on Brexit and preparedness and I will be willing to do so in the future if I am lucky enough to hold office. Of course we will do that. That is what engaging with Brexit stakeholders is all about, to try to inform these decisions in as broad and as democratic a way as possible.

What was the question?

Sorry. I have spoken to Michael Gove on this issue. I have told him that I cannot understand their reluctance to accept this. In my view, as someone who is involved in the process, it was understood and it was a non-issue, quite frankly. It has now become an issue and I can only assume it is because politics have been created around this issue. We have to find a way to diffuse it and find a sensible approach to ensure there can be an EU presence to reassure the EU side that the protocol is being implemented fully. …

An EU presence there would reassure everybody and makes sense for both sides.

The only thing I would say to that is that the Deputy should not confuse diplomacy with weakness. We have got the results we have been looking for, by and large, through these Brexit negotiations. In terms of the Irish protocol, the protections of the Good Friday Agreement, the absolute assurance we have now in law to prevent Border infrastructure re-emerging on the island of Ireland, people predicted that many of those things could not be negotiated or happen. Sometimes a stand-off on something is not necessarily …

There is a misunderstanding in the question. We are not facing the prospect of a hard border again. A no-deal Brexit in this round means a no-trade deal Brexit. We have a deal that prevents a hard border. It is called the withdrawal agreement and the Irish protocol that is in it. We also have a British Government that, as late as last week, confirmed that it will implement the protocol and that it understands its legal obligations in full in the context of its implementation. Let us not create a concern here where …

I will get to the last question. Even though it has nothing to do with Brexit I will answer it because I want to be totally upfront about it. On the first issue, if this is about a race to the bottom and, as was raised earlier, if it is an attempt by the British Government to undercut EU standards to create competitive advantage while looking to get barrier-free access into the Single Market then there will not be an agreement. Let us be very clear on that. The EU understands exactly what is at stake here. They hav…

I can answer those questions directly because the answer is "Yes". That is what the withdrawal agreement was all about. It is what the Irish protocol and the legislation we passed here, and the British Government passed in Westminster, was about too, in respect of protecting the common travel area, and ensuring we protect access for students North and South into each other's universities and cross-Border healthcare co-operation. We spent many months putting together the pieces to ensure we could provide that kind o…

As somebody who has spent a lot of time with fishermen and farmers and those working in both sectors in the broader food industry, I agree that these are two vulnerable sectors if we cannot get the kind of Brexit deal we are looking for. There is no question about that. That is why, when we put contingency plans in place for a no-deal Brexit, these sectors were a big focus for us, along with tourism and hospitality. In many ways, the no-deal Brexit preparations we had put in place were of some assistance in the con…

The level playing field conditions obviously apply in terms of GB and Northern Ireland. In the context of the protocol where there effectively is no request for any form of border infrastructure or checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that means food production in Northern Ireland must operate to the same standards as those in the Republic of Ireland. Otherwise one is creating a skewed market which producers here will be unable to stand over in respect of exports. Take the example of Lakeland…

We are here today to take part in one of the last acts of the 25th Seanad. It is extraordinary that the legislation this Seanad will pass in its final hours will be among the most important ever passed in this House. The provisions before the House could never have been imagined as necessary even a few months ago. Who could have predicted that we would be challenged to legislate in the face of a global pandemic that is sweeping the world and killing tens of thousands of people? Yesterday, Ireland lost ten people. I…

I thank all the Senators for their constructive comments. Even when concerns are expressed, it is constructive criticism. I appreciate that and we will take it on board. Like others, I express condolences to Senator Ruane in respect of her loss. On the issues raised by Fianna Fáil and others relating to the availability of PPE, there is a global shortage of PPE for healthcare staff. There is a competition, if one likes, that is intense to try to get contracts in order to get large volumes of PPE into different coun…

I am glad to say we are making good progress in Australia and Peru, two of the pressure points so far. Senator Higgins is right, of course. Whatever challenges we face here in protecting our citizens, reinforcing the health infrastructure and the staff behind it, we have to ask the question as to how on earth some countries, with extremely limited resources and effectively no health infrastructure, are going to have the capacity to respond to the pressures they will face in the weeks and months ahead. That will cer…

I do not want to give an answer on the hoof here that I cannot follow through on. I have heard what the Senator has had to say and I will try to come back to him on it.

I know the Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, is here now and we can move on to both Committee and Report Stages without further delay. I thank Members for their contributions.

The HSE and the national action plan have identified retired healthcare professionals and those who no longer work in the public health system as a key cohort who can be mobilised to assist during this emergency. Some of these persons are members of the regulated professions who have let their registrations lapse, including doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists and healthcare and social care professionals. The current legal provisions for restoration are detailed, however, and in some cases restoration t…

I will, and I will also respond to some of the other points when I sum up. I can assure Senator Reilly that the State has made no decision at any point that would allow a building site that is not safe for people who are working on it to continue to stay open. We want to ensure that we can help employers, be they on building sites or elsewhere, where work continues to go on in a way that is consistent with guidelines as outlined. If there is not consistency with the guidelines and workers are working under undue ri…

Normally I would have quite long responses to some of the amendments but in this case a very clear recommendation from the Department says that the legislation already provides adequate protection on the vindication of rights of patients. I assume the Senator is trying to ensure a belt and braces approach to make sure we have regard to the vindication of the rights of patients while minimising the care burden. That sentiment is shared, but the legal view on this legislation is that the vindication of rights of pati…

To clarify, are we on amendments Nos. 34, 35 and 36?

I do not want to stray into the golfing area but the national sporting bodies are giving good guidance to their members and their members should take that guidance seriously. That is all I will say on it. That is not to say that people should not be able to take exercise, which I accept is good for mental health. Sporting bodies will have consulted and will be making responsible decisions and recommendations. Member clubs should heed that advice. A couple of questions had no connection with the amendment but-----