Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the concessions that have been made in bringing forward some of the stages. However, those over 66 years are still neglected. They are not looking for much, all they wanted was the difference between their pension and the Covid payment. They have played and continue to play a big part in our society.

Mobile businesses have been badly affected. There are many from bread vans and the milkmen to readymix and block drivers and the many services, such as those who come to our houses with fresh fish. However, because they are mobile and do not pay rates they get nothing. It is very unfair. I was astounded to hear the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, say that they were in a better position to deal with it than others. How could they be? They have been stopped dead in their tracks and have had no income. It is very bad.

On childcare, I do not know why the fabulous array of community centres up and down the country cannot be used. They are in almost every community, thanks to Government grants and also teams of volunteers which enabled them. Community halls should be used for childcare. They are used in some places, such as in my own village where the naíonra uses the community hall.

The matter of barbers was raised by Deputy Michael Healy-Rae recently. The Taoiseach has also received a letter from Willie Walsh, a wonderful barber in Clonmel. They need to get going. There was a bit of a story in the newspaper this morning but there is no clarity. Will the Taoiseach direct NPHET in relation to barbers, especially, and hairdressers? I know it takes a bit longer to do the ladies' hair than it does men's. The black market is thriving and it is killing our economy and those businesses such as the one I mentioned and many more, including Liam Wall in Cahir, which are open 40 years. They are providing good employment and have invested in their premises so that they can work safely and well.

Some 50% of the private bus companies who bring our children to school are Bus Éireann contractors. They are getting 50% of their income which is necessary and a help but there are a large group of people - I know many of them such as Denny Whelan in Cahir - who provide bus services to families who cannot get the service from Bus Éireann. They have the very same insurance and standards, the bus has to be DOE tested and everything, and rightly so, but they are not getting a penny. They cannot afford this. We need them to come back in September when the schools reopen.

July provision was mentioned. It is awful. I welcome that some GAA pitches are open for a limited time for people to use them. These people have been stuck in their houses.

Some 74,000 people responded to the call to help Ireland through the HSE and our hospitals, but only 140 were employed. What is wrong? There was such a spirit of the people. The 74,000 was whittled down because some were not qualified. Yet, we are still spending huge money on private hospitals. I know we had to take them over, I supported that, but they should have been given back June because of the numbers waiting for all sorts of tests, such as CervicalCheck or BreastCheck and prostate cancer. There are ads on the radio supporting the hospice with the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. The Taoiseach might get a job if he is out of a job next week, if Micheál takes over from him. So many people are waiting for so many operations, with capacity going to waste. The queues will be massive during winter.

I refer to the Revenue Commissioners. Applications for grants are stacking up as people are told that if their taxes are not up to date, they cannot get them. Revenue should show some lenience with tax this year. Everything just closed overnight and people were unable to do their books and have no revenue to pay their tax. There should be some understanding by Revenue about this year's taxation. Long-term arrears are a different story, but they should get a break over the current year.

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