Vol. 270 Friday, No. 7 24 July 2020. DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN Teachtaireacht ón Dáil - Message from Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 361 24/07/2020A00300Minute’s Silence on Deaths of Dr� Syed Waqqar Ali and Ruth Morrissey� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 361 24/07/2020B00200An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 361 24/07/2020R00700Seanad Bill 2020: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 378 24/07/2020R01500Arrangements for Sitting of the House: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 378 24/07/2020W00100Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 379 24/07/2020W00500Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 380 24/07/2020OO00100Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � 398 24/07/2020BBB00100Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Second Stage � � � � 403 24/07/2020BBBB00500Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Committee and Re- maining Stages� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 430 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé hAoine, 24 Iúil 2020 Friday, 24 July 2020 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 07/2020A00100Teachtaireacht ón Dáil - Message from Dáil 24/07/2020A00200An Cathaoirleach: Dáil Éireann passed the Health (General Practitioner Service and Al- teration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 on 23 July 2020, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired� 24/07/2020A00300Minute’s Silence on Deaths of Dr. Syed Waqqar Ali and Ruth Morrissey 24/07/2020A00400Senator Regina Doherty: As agreed by Members yesterday, I propose a minute’s silence in respect of the passing of Dr� Syed Waqqar Ali and Ruth Morrissey� Members rose. 24/07/2020B00100An Cathaoirleach: I thank the Leader for organising the minute’s silence� I too express my sympathies on the deaths of Dr� Syed Waqqar Ali and Ruth Morrissey� Dr� Ali was the eighth healthcare worker in Ireland to die as a result of Covid-19� We all agree with the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council which said of Dr� Ali and all healthcare workers that they are at the front line of fighting Covid-19 and are true heroes. We express our sympathies to the families of Dr� Ali and all those who have died as a result of Covid-19, and of course to the family of Ruth Morrissey, her daughter Libby and her husband Paul� She was a tireless campaigner for truth for all those who suffered as a result of the CervicalCheck issue. She was a warrior for truth and justice� We remember her today� 24/07/2020B00200An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business 24/07/2020B00300Senator Regina Doherty: The Order of Business is No� 1, motion re the arrangements for the sitting of the House on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No� 2, the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 361 Seanad Éireann 2020 - all Stages, to be taken at 11�45 a�m� and to conclude after two hours by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government, the time allocated to the group spokespersons in the debate on Second Stage shall not exceed eight minutes, and all other Senators shall not exceed five min- utes, and the Minister shall be given not less than eight minutes to reply, with Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter; and No� 3, Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 - all Stages, to be taken at 2�15 p�m�, with the time allocated to the group spokespersons in the debate on Second Stage not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given not less than eight minutes to reply, with Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter� 24/07/2020B00400Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee: I raise a very important issue today� It is one I raised on a number of occasions in the previous Seanad, namely, period poverty� For those who do not know what period poverty is, it is being unable to access sanitary products due to financial con- straints� It is a global public health issue and vulnerable women and girls in Ireland today are suffering from period poverty. They cannot manage their menstruation in a safe, dignified and healthy fashion and without stigma and shame attached to it� That poses a very real risk to their health and well-being� A recent survey of girls in Ireland revealed that 50% have been unable to access sanitary products due to financial constraints and 61% have missed school as a result of their period. Women are using rags and newspapers and some have suffered significant per- manent damage to their health as a result of using inappropriate products� It is shameful that, as a rich, developed country, we allow this to persist� We already know that women have borne the brunt of this pandemic financially and otherwise. Period poverty in Ireland is set to become an even bigger issue in the coming years as a result of the pandemic� Almost a year and a half ago, the Seanad and Dáil passed identical motions on period pov- erty� I was happy to play my part in that in the previous Seanad� As a result of those dual mo- tions, the Minister for Health gave a commitment that sanitary products would be available in all public buildings and a committee on this subject was set up within the Department, which brought together various NGOs and interest groups� That committee has met, so I ask the Lead- er to call the new Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, to this House to get an update on its work� Ireland was a global leader on public health in the past� The current Taoiseach brought in the smoking ban when he was the Minister for Health and Children, and we were world lead- ers in that regard� That ban changed the culture, public health and people’s behaviour, and it saved thousands of lives� Now is the time to make a bold statement on behalf of women in this country� We must become global leaders and join countries like Scotland and New Zealand by giving the women of Ireland the respect they need and the dignity to have a safe period� 24/07/2020C00200Senator Michael McDowell: I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No� 5 be taken before No� 1� I draw the House’s attention to the following health matter and I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Health to make himself available to deal with this issue, as he has other business in this House today� I refer to the need for the HSE and the Department of Health to put in place a comprehensive programme for influenza inoculation right across the country. We know there is a significant danger of flu coinciding with spikes in Covid infections and that the symptoms of some flus and Covid are easily confused. Some scientific material also indicates that the flu complicates Covid conditions and makes the Covid infection more dangerous. Given that there is a seasonal aspect to flu and that, ordinarily, there is a significant influenza problem from October to January or February, it is essential that the health authorities 362 24 July 2020 extend inoculation services to the maximum possible extent� A plan is currently afoot in United Kingdom - or in the English part of it, at least - to provide free influenza inoculation not only to those over 65 but to everybody over 50 and to other vul- nerable categories of the population� With all the problems we are experiencing at the moment, it is essential that the HSE makes preparations to do that in September and October� I would like to hear from the Minister that that is going to happen, that the plans are well advanced and that we are not going to find ourselves running to catch up when this becomes a problem in No- vember. In the southern hemisphere, where the seasons are different, there are indications that social distancing and wearing a mask for Covid have reduced the prevalence of influenza and are having a repressive effect on it. That may be the case but we have an opportunity now to do something about the coincidence of flu and Covid and I would like to hear what the Minister proposes to do� 24/07/2020C00300Senator Marie Sherlock: I refer to the July stimulus package that was published yester- day� In advance of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020 and the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No� 2) Bill 2020 coming to the House next week, I have serious ques- tions about what was announced yesterday� There can be no doubt that the injection of €5 billion in additional spending into our economy is badly needed, but let us be clear as to what needs to be fixed and what the July stimulus does and does not do. There is no doubt that busi- nesses need support and the vast majority of the firepower announced yesterday was directed at them� For workers, there were some assurances on the continuation of the temporary wage subsidy scheme, but there was very little reassurance yesterday for people who are out of work, especially those in sectors that cannot open until there is a vaccine or treatment for Covid-19� I am thinking of the arts sector in particular� As the National Campaign for the Arts has already stated, this sector was the first to close and will be probably be one of the last to reopen.