I thank the Minister for replying on this matter. We are good Europeans. If the Commission has issued a legal warning to Ireland, it is a serious issue and needs to be addressed. We are all familiar with the separation of powers and the High Court is doing its business. However, if it is a case of the Garda not dealing with offences that it does not consider serious, the House, in particular the Minister, would have to address the matter. I appreciate what the Minister has said. I hope that, as good Europeans, we w…

We are debating the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 and by any standards this is comprehensive legislation. It is the second omnibus Bill dealing with Brexit to come before the House. The Bill involves nine Government Departments and has 19 Parts. It aims to protect citizens' rights and support the economy, enterprise and jobs. It sets out to protect the common travel area and to facilitate North-South co-operation. It is clear to me that civil servants …

The European Council meeting held last week dealt with a number of issues, including Covid-19, EU-UK relations and Brexit, climate change and external relations with Africa, as well as the southern neighbourhood, Belarus, Turkey and the downing of flight MH17. Obviously of major concern to Ireland is the Brexit issue and the state of EU-UK negotiations on a possible trade agreement. The time, energy and resources given to dealing with the outcome of the fateful vote on Brexit way back on 23 June 2016 have been subs…

This week we had a budget like no other. The total budgetary package announced this week came to in excess of €17.75 billion. Budget 2021 represents the largest investment in the history of the State. The budget deficit for 2020 will be around €21.5 billion and next year it will be about €20.5 billion. The national debt level for 2020 will be around €219 billion. The words "shock and awe" come to mind, but this unprecedented budget is absolutely the right one for these unprecedented times. Covid-19 and Brexit, be i…

I am sharing time with my long-time constituency colleague, Deputy Bruton.

All of the Dublin Bay North Deputies are on their feet today. On 1 January 2021, the UK will be outside the EU's Single Market and the customs union. This has huge implications for our SMEs, our agricultural sector and our economy generally. Already, our businesses are suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit is a double-whammy for them. We must do everything we can to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland in the short time left to us, given these adverse circumstances. Negotiations be…

The events that became known as the Arms Trial convulsed the politics of this island 50 years ago. Some people came to believe that certain Fianna Fáil Ministers, along with a cabal of Irish Army officers, attempted to import arms for the IRA through Dublin Airport. A trial involving four defendants opened exactly 50 years ago today. All were acquitted. An account of these events, which was provided a decade later by the late Peter Berry, then Secretary General of the Department of Justice, made it clear that the S…

I call on the Minister to confirm that Mac Stíofáin was, in fact, an informer and to declassify all files relating to the information he provided to the Special Branch about the events to which I refer. I appreciate what the Minister said regarding the sensitive nature of these files. However, it seems that the House was given inaccurate information on 8 May 1970 when it heard a version of events which purported to explain how the State had discovered the then forthcoming arms flight. It was then claimed that the s…

I want to put on the record of the Dáil my appreciation for the work undertaken by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, and the acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronan Glynn, in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are indebted to them for their calm and wise advice and their expertise at this very difficult time for everyone. With regard to the pubs, in the past I strongly supported the enactment of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. I am very much aware of the harmful effects of alcohol on our health …

I am sharing my time with Deputies Niamh Smyth and Murnane O'Connor. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on his appointment. He has certainly hit the ground running. Housing was a major issue in the general election and there is much work to be done, to say the least. I wish the Minister and the Minister of State every success in their endeavours for all our sakes. I am happy to give the Bill a broad welcome. It freezes rents and allows for an eviction moratorium in respect of tenants affected by C…

I appreciate the Acting Chairman might need binoculars but I would appreciate the opportunity to ask a question.

I congratulate Deputy Byrne on his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. I regret that he was not able to go to Brussels but I appreciate the circumstances behind that, which concerned the Covid-19 crisis. I welcome the agreement reached by the European Council on the multi-annual financial framework and the recovery stimulus package, which, as the Taoiseach has said, is unprecedented. I also welcome the Brexit reserve fund. Moreover, I support the general strategic approach ado…

Throughout his political career, the Taoiseach has taken a special interest in children with special needs. As the previous speaker noted, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to: "reduce the waiting times for assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005 through the full year provision of additional therapy posts." It is clear that the commitments under the Disability Act 2005 are not being honoured in the context of children with disabilities. There are severe waiting lists for primary care se…

The EU faces a number of challenges at this time, including the Brexit negotiations, climate change, economic recovery following Covid-19, the conflict in Syria, the faltering EU-Turkey migration agreement, and threats to the rule of law in Poland and Hungary. We are fortunate that Germany takes over the Presidency of the European Union next month. Chancellor Merkel's wisdom and experience will be called upon in spades for the next six months. I have only two questions. My first question is in relation to the Next …

That is correct. I am going to ask three questions in two and a half minutes and hopefully the Minister of State can reply in that time. A hard or no-deal Brexit is now looking increasingly likely. This will have serious consequences for businesses and SMEs already struggling due to Covid-19. There seem to be several disagreements between the EU and the UK in the negotiations. These include the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol, fisheries, level playing field provisions and the overall governance stru…

Recent events in the USA are very sad and very disturbing. Both I and my party condemn discrimination and racism of any kind. People must have the right to protest peacefully, and the use of violence and force must be condemned. Government at all times must act democratically and in the best interests of all its people. I wish to take up the points the Tánaiste made concerning passport service. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs website, public offices dealing with provision of passport services are clo…

I would like them now.

Yes.

I ask that written replies be issued to me in due course.

I ask the Tánaiste to take note of my questions and issue written replies to me in due course.