Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Mick Barry. This is the first debate in which I have spoken under the new speaking rules and what an attempt it is to muzzle the Opposition. By the time we get to speak for five minutes the Government has spoken for 32 minutes. By the time our slot comes up, instead of four slots before us there have been eight. By the time some of the other Opposition groups get to speak for five minutes, the Government will have spoken for a total of 60 minutes. No wonder they tried to drive this process through without regard for the opinions of many people in here. For that reason, it simply will not be accepted.

On the question of teachers at high risk, it is really scandalous that at this stage 650 teachers at high risk have been instructed by Medmark, a private company employed by the Department, a gun for hire, to go back to school. These are not people with a cold or minor problems. These are people with serious diseases such as cancer, kidney failure and substantial underlying conditions. In some cases, they have received advice from their doctors or consultants that they cannot safely return to work. There was one case referred to of a teacher who had acute leukaemia, type 2 diabetes, asthma, anaemia and an autoimmune disorder and Medmark said they should go back to work despite their doctor telling them they were not able to. It is simply not acceptable. Anybody whose doctor is telling them it is not safe to go back to work should not be put in this position, particularly by a private corporation dictating that they do so.

I have been raising for months with the Minister and have had written correspondence with her and her predecessor on the issue of school buses. It has been largely unnoticed and unremarked upon in the media that there has been a widespread cut of school bus services across Dublin. At a time when we need more buses, the school bus service has been scrapped entirely. For at least three schools in my constituency, St. Mac Dara's, Tallaght community school and St. Paul's secondary school, the bus run is being scrapped entirely and the answer is that the students should just take the regular bus. That is not a runner for people and the cut needs to be reversed.

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