Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis na Teachtaí Pádraig O'Sullivan, Lahart, Murnane O'Connor agus Flaherty. Tá 15 nóiméad againn agus tógfaidh mise tuairim agus cúig nóiméad as sin. Táim chun ceisteanna a chur ar an Aire freisin. Táim sásta a bheith anseo agus cuirim fáilte go ginearálta roimh an mhéid a bhí le rá ag an Aire ach níl sé mórán difriúil leis an mhéid a bhí le rá aige an tseachtain seo caite nó an tseachtain roimhe sin. Tá easpa eolais fós maidir leis an scéim atá an tAire ag cur ar fáil don mhí seo chuga…

The Minister's speech says: "Where possible, some expanded provision to include other children with significant special education needs should be included". That is different to what the Minister has just said in the sense of him wanting a vastly increased number of children to avail of this. The Minister's official written speech does not make that as clear as what he has said.

It is very important that on Friday the Minister confirm that the same aims and objectives, in addition to the other objectives of the July provision scheme, are there. Addressing the shortfall in provision for the special educational needs of all children, particularly those who face disadvantage, must be an absolute priority for the current Government and the next one. What has happened in the past three months has not been the fault of the Government but comes on top of reduced provision and not enough provision…

Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis na Teachtaí Séamus Ó Laighléis, Seán Lahart agus Seán Mac Aonghusa. Tógfaidh mé seacht nóiméad agus beidh trí nóiméad ag mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ó Laighléis, agus dhá nóiméad go leith ag an mbeirt Teachtaí eile. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh as a bheith tofa go sealadach sa Chathaoir. Ní fhaca mé ball ó Shinn Féin riamh sa Chathaoir roimhe seo.

Tá sé ina Chathaoirleach don lá, ar aon nós. I welcome much of what the Minister said today and acknowledge that some of the suggestions made by Fianna Fáil and other parties in Dáil Éireann over the last number of weeks have, in fact, been implemented. I particularly welcome the role played by Dr. Fernando Cartwright in the process surrounding the calculated grades system, and the Minister's announcement of an independent monitoring committee for the process. That is crucial, and the Minister is correct. Generally…

Tá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis na Teachtaí Christopher O'Sullivan, Cathal Crowe agus Flaherty. The Minister's speech seems to mark a sea change in activity and attitude by the Department. I am not happy with everything that is happening but I detect in his speech a much greater openness from the Department in how it is dealing with educational issues. We are still seeking clarity and certainty on many issues, but I have always accepted that certainty is not always possible in this pandemic and that things will c…

I understand that the Fianna Fáil Whip has informed the Government Whip that we would like to have this motion deferred. We feel there has not been enough discussion. There are other issues in the Guerin report that are not simply related to the matters of concern in this case and we do not believe this should be dealt with as expeditiously as is proposed; that it is unnecessary to do so. It can be done when Members have had sufficient time to consider what is before them and what we are doing. That has been commun…

Could the Business Committee not reconvene to discuss this matter?

Táim le mo chuid ama a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaithe, na Teachtaí Pádraig Ó Súilleabháin, Norma Ní Fhoghlú agus Aindrias Ó Muimhneacháin, an ceathrar againn.

I welcome the fact that a decision has been made to provide certainty on the leaving certificate. There are still issues in that regard which my colleagues and Deputies across the House will address, but we have finally moved past the uncertainty. Members of the Minister's advisory group on State examinations have put forward their own queries, including the unions, the management bodies, parents councils and students. It would be helpful if those queries were published on the Department's website and if the respon…

The Minister signed the law.

Yes, and maybe the Minister would reply individually to us within the six for me and four for Deputy Lawless. Would that be acceptable?

The Minister will finish then and leave four minutes for Deputy Lawless, and if he does not have time, he does not have time.

It is fair to say that while I have been accepting of the decisions of the Department of Education and Skills in this crisis I am not best pleased by its approach over recent weeks. The Minister mentioned a briefing for Deputies on 1 April. When he spoke in Irish he mentioned the good relations among parties in the House and, yes, we have spoken on several occasions. I asked for a briefing two weeks ago and was promised it by telephone but it never happened. The Department of Health runs regular briefings for Deput…

Is it okay if the Minister answers now?

Does Deputy Lawless wish to come in now?

A Cheann Comhairle, I accept that ruling but it begs the question of whether there might be private time for us if we need to put forward legislation to enact the amendments that, clearly, Members put forward with the best intentions and in the belief they were necessary. I have one relating to repossessions. The Government says it is dealing with that next week. Is there an option for us to suspend Standing Orders in respect of particular amendments to overrule the decision you have made if the House thinks it is …

The legislation has to go through, although I understand that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has been operating the Bill's social welfare provisions on an administrative basis in any event. Deputy O'Callaghan raised the issue of the definition of "medical officer" that I raised last night at the briefing, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties contacted us about the matter last night. While the provisions in the Bill have to be brought in, we never achieve anything by rushing through …

I echo what Deputy Niall Collins has said. I got reports of house parties on St. Patrick's Day. The reaction of the constituents who contacted me about those parties was one of utter fear and trepidation as to what might be the results. Those constituents are not party poopers, they are simply afraid. They are doing their bit, as is 99% of the population, and they want to make sure everybody else does their bit. I do not have evidence of it but I am also getting reports of pubs that are open although I have also se…

Can the Minister address the issue of the children?