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Vol. 995 Wednesday, No. 1 15 July 2020 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN Insert Date Here 15/07/2020A00100Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 15/07/2020F00100Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 15/07/2020G00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 15/07/2020G00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 15/07/2020G00250Renewable Energy Generation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 15/07/2020G00950Cybersecurity Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 15/07/2020H00600Fuel Poverty � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16 15/07/2020J00400Bord na Móna � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 15/07/2020K00150North-South Interconnector � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 15/07/2020K01000Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 15/07/2020K01025National Broadband Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 15/07/2020L00700National Broadband Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25 15/07/2020M00550Greenhouse Gas Emissions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 27 15/07/2020M01050Climate Action Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28 15/07/2020N00600Programme for Government� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 15/07/2020N01000National Broadband Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31 15/07/2020O00550Climate Change Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 32 15/07/2020P00200National Broadband Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 33 15/07/2020P01100Wind Energy Generation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 35 15/07/2020Q00200Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36 15/07/2020U00300Nomination of Member of Government: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 46 15/07/2020Y00900Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56 15/07/2020BB01800Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64 15/07/2020BB01850Cabinet Committees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64 15/07/2020DD00850Taoiseach’s Communications � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 71 15/07/2020FF00200Cabinet Committees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 75 15/07/2020HH00300Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 78 15/07/2020WW00100Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 94 15/07/2020JJJ00400National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 113 15/07/2020JJJ00800National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 114 15/07/2020UUU00400Employment Rights: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 138 15/07/2020FFFF00425Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 165 15/07/2020FFFF00500Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 166 15/07/2020FFFF00600Transport Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 166 15/07/2020GGGG00600Substance Misuse � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 168 15/07/2020JJJJ00150Hospital Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 171 15/07/2020KKKK00300Drugs Crime � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 174 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 15 Iúil 2020 Wednesday, 15 July 2020 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 9�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 15/07/2020A00100Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) Question again proposed: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time�” 15/07/2020A00200Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh: It was obvious from the beginning that this global pan- demic that a European response was required to meet the unprecedented challenges relating to Covid-19� We therefore welcome this Bill� The support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency, SURE, instrument within this Bill provides for €100 billion to be raised on the capital markets by the EU Commission� This will enable member states to temporarily mitigate unemployment risks and it will help us to finance our wage subsidy scheme. It is vitally impor- tant that the scheme continues while businesses struggle to operate to full capacity� Keeping people in employment during this time of uncertainty must be a priority� This was the approach taken in several other European countries. The benefits of a short-term work scheme were seen in Germany during the recent recession� The temporary wage subsidy scheme has been vital in keeping people in work and keeping working relationships intact� The European Investment Bank, EIB, pan-European guarantee fund will provide additional loans to SMEs, mid-caps and corporates affected by Covid-19, but the loans must be interest-free. We must ensure that the money gets to where it is needed most as quickly as possible� Businesses need cash and they need it now� I welcome the steps that have been taken to date but I am concerned that too many busi- nesses and self-employed people are falling through the gaps� These gaps are becoming more evident as we push through the challenges we continue to face� Small businesses in Mayo con- tinue to close on a daily basis, and we must stop this� Many of these businesses could remain open with proper supports� Grant aid, not loans, is necessary to keep these businesses open until such time as they are able to operate again to their full potential� We bailed out the banks, now we need a bailout for these businesses which have served us so loyally over generations� We need to realise that enabling businesses to stay open, employ people and keep our towns and villages alive makes economic and social sense� It has to be the only show in town� Boarded- up shop fronts, long queues for unemployment benefit and reduced returns for the Exchequer 2 15 July 2020 must be avoided at all costs� Too often in the past, EU administered loans have disproportionately gone to larger com- panies. Even in the context of the fund under discussion, companies with as many as 3,000 employees can access the loans� Of these loans, 65% will be ring-fenced for SMEs but the category relating to SMEs is broad� Some such enterprises have 250 employees� We have also seen how larger companies are better placed to avail of these funds. They can afford the accountants and financial expertise to draw down large portions of funding available, while smaller businesses and those with only three, five or ten employees do not have the means to do so� I ask that the scheme be strictly monitored in order to ensure that the funds get to where they are needed most and that financial institutions do not capitalise on the backs of struggling busi- nesses� I ask that we do not, as often happens, rely on the sketchy judgment