Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy McDonald's point about domestic abuse, resourcing will not be an issue in dealing with this, particularly during the lockdown. If there are particular issues she has identified with any specific refuges or centres that need additional funding, the Government will certainly respond. The issue is that the evidence from the first lockdown was that the level of domestic violence did increase and that is a worry and a concern in the context of a further lockdown. The Ministers concerned have been looking at what additional measures can be taken to help and to assist the staff involved, with awareness helplines but also engagement across the different Departments. That work will continue and funding will not be an issue in this regard.

Even at today's Cabinet meeting, the level of work under way illustrates that the programme for Government is moving at pace. The marine development Bill, which was before the Cabinet earlier, will help to unleash a lot of economic development. It still needs a lot of legislation but the heads were essentially agreed today. On housing, the Land Development Agency Bill was agreed today. There is a lot of work still to be done but our aim is to get it published before the end of the year and through the House. The electoral reform Bill dealing with the establishment of an electoral commission went through Cabinet today. I refer to Erasmus for students in Northern Ireland, notwithstanding what may happen with Brexit. If there is an agreement, UK students may be able to avail of the Erasmus programme. If there is not, that will leave Irish citizens in the North in jeopardy. We are taking measures to ensure students in the North can avail of the programme through universities in the Republic. That was passed today. We agreed Covid-19 measures to make sure we can sign up two other companies so we can procure vaccines when they become available. We dealt also with the Covid-19 fines and penalties legislation and Cork flood support. On direct provision reform, the report by Ms Catherine Day was considered by Cabinet today. It is a very substantive report and the Ministers will launch it with her shortly. The heads of the finance Bill was passed today. A starting date for the CervicalCheck tribunal was sanctioned at Cabinet today. Regarding victims and witnesses, the implementation of the O'Malley report on sexual violence went through Cabinet today and the Minister for Justice and Equality is acting on that.

That is the level of pace and substance that this Government is about. In the past four months, the quality and substance of the legislation has been without precedent, from what I can see, in such a short period. The major issues we have dealt with economically, financially and in respect of health have been very substantial and we intend to continue with that pace.

On Debenhams, I spoke to a shop steward this morning. They are under a lot of pressure.

The flooding that occurred in my city of Cork this morning created pressures for the workers concerned. I will see what I can do regarding whether we can facilitate a meeting between KPMG and the shop stewards. I know Mandate has been working on this and I do not want to overtake its role in it. Mandate, along with ICTU, has been leading on behalf of the workers.

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