Vol. 999 Tuesday, No. 5 20 October 2020 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions 503 20/10/2020K00700An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business 514 20/10/2020R01300Parliamentary Precincts and Privilege: Motion 526 20/10/2020R01600Planning and Development (Climate Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Restoration to Order Paper 526 20/10/2020R01900Estimates for Public Services 2020: Messages from Select Committee 527 20/10/2020R02100Ceisteanna – Questions 527 20/10/2020R02200National Economic and Social Council ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������527 20/10/2020T00700Cabinet Committees 531 20/10/2020U03100Programme for Government 535 20/10/2020Y00100Post-European Council Meeting on 15 and 16 October: Statements 539 20/10/2020EE00400Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 552 20/10/2020EE00600Post-European Council Meeting on 15 and 16 October: Statements (Resumed) �������������������������������������������������553 20/10/2020OO00025Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) 568 20/10/2020OO00050Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 569 20/10/2020OO00075After-School Support Services 569 20/10/2020OO00750School Attendance 571 20/10/2020PP00600Domestic Violence Refuges Provision 572 20/10/2020QQ00350Youth Services 574 20/10/2020RR00150Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions 576 20/10/2020RR00200Early Years Sector 576 20/10/2020SS00250Childcare Services 579 20/10/2020TT00600Domestic Violence Services 582 20/10/2020UU00250Childcare Services 584 20/10/2020UU00950Childcare Services 586 20/10/2020VV00600City and County Child Care Committees 588 20/10/2020WW00400Childcare Services 589 20/10/2020WW01100Equality Issues 591 20/10/2020XX00100National Childcare Scheme 592 20/10/2020XX00700Ministerial Power (Repeal) (Ban Co-Living and Build to Rent) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] 593 20/10/2020KKK00300Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil 620 20/10/2020LLL00100Sitting Arrangements: Motion ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������621 20/10/2020PPP00100Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 625 20/10/2020PPP00200Tax Collection 625 20/10/2020RRR00600Aviation Industry 628 20/10/2020SSS00250Covid-19 Pandemic 631 20/10/2020TTT00250Water Quality 633 20/10/2020UUU00400 20/10/2020UUU0050 Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) 636 Dáil Éireann Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 636 20/10/2020UUU00600Student Accommodation 636 20/10/2020VVV00350Student Support Schemes �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������639 20/10/2020WWW00300Student Support Schemes �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������641 20/10/2020WWW01100Technological Universities 643 20/10/2020XXX00550Student Assistance Fund 645 20/10/2020YYY00400Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions 647 20/10/2020YYY00500Asylum Seekers 647 20/10/2020YYY01100Student Accommodation 648 20/10/2020ZZZ00250Bullying in Educational Institutions 650 20/10/2020ZZZ00950Apprenticeship Programmes 651 20/10/2020AAAA00700Further and Higher Education ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������653 20/10/2020AAAA01500Student Assistance Fund 654 20/10/2020BBBB00400Further Education and Training Programmes 655 502 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 20 Deireadh Fómhair 2020 Tuesday, 20 October 2020 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2 pm Paidir. Prayer. 20/10/2020A00100Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions 20/10/2020A00200Deputy Mary Lou McDonald: This morning, people woke up with a great sense of anxi- ety and uncertainty about the future Last night’s news that the State was to be moved to level 5 from midnight tomorrow until the end of November was the source of this uncertainty and anxiety I understand fully that this was a hard decision for the Government I also know that it is an even harder decision for all those who will bear the inevitable brunt of the hardship it will bring It would be impossible today to overstate the level of concern and, in some cases, distress among our people I fully accept that action had to be taken There is no doubt that the virus is being transmit- ted exponentially We now have six weeks to do the things I believe the Government should have done during the summer months, when we achieved a very low rate of transmission of Co- vid-19. At that time, through collective action and personal sacrifice, we suppressed the virus and, with the right plan, I am absolutely confident we can do it again. We must not, however, lose this second window of opportunity to build capacity and our defences for the time ahead We need to see a plan, therefore, to increase hospital bed capacity and for the rapid recruitment of staff. We have to get testing and tracing right. We need a plan to ensure a secure and afford- able roof over our people’s heads, and we need to get things right as regards people coming onto the island through our airports and ports It would be unthinkable if in six weeks we were to meet again not having responded to these challenges We need a strategy that brings us beyond 2020 This must be an all-island strategy I was taken aback by the Taoiseach’s comments last night that seemed to suggest we will move in and out of lockdown for the duration of 2021 I would like him to clarify that point for us A lot is being asked of people over the next six weeks The Government absolutely cannot sleepwalk its way through this lockdown Everything that needs to be done must be done to ensure we emerge stronger at every level I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has addressed his devastating cuts to the pandemic un- employment payment, PUP, and wage subsidy scheme As he knows, we were very concerned 503 Dáil Éireann that he did not do so in last week’s budget He now needs to make sure these payments do not leave anybody behind One group that is struggling and has been left behind is mortgage hold- ers We argued very strongly that the mortgage payment breaks should have been extended for homeowners and businesses That was at the end of September, just three short weeks ago, yet the Government failed to secure these protections Now, three short weeks later, we are on the eve of a day when 200,000 will lose their jobs Does the Taoiseach now accept that this was a very grave error in judgment on the part of his Government and, in particular, the Minister for Finance? Does he accept that this failure will have very serious implications for the credit ratings of tens of thousands of families and businesses? He could have done something about this but he failed to do so and that is shocking He cannot blame people for believing the cosy relationship between his partner in government, Fine Gael, and the world of high finance was a key reason the Government sat on its hands and allowed this to occur Who will be calling in the banks? Will the Taoiseach be in contact with them directly and will he make it clear to