John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The sector is under serious financial pressure. What has been offered by the Department in the face of Covid-19, and planning for a second wave of the virus, is not sufficient and does not show real forward planning or thinking on the side of the Department, or a real understanding of the sector and the cost base that it must carry. As an aside, we have been told that there is only one underwriter. Providers have serious insurance problems but that existed before Covid-19 and exists now in an even more significant way.

Finally, in addressing that matter, was the Department asked about its future in the context of what is being talked about now relative to the formation of Government? Is it a fact that this discussion was shared with the Department or was it not? I would like to hear the views of the witnesses on this matter.