Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There has been much talk about front-line workers but the one group we constantly seem to pass over without mention is my former colleagues in the Defence Forces, who are paid below the minimum wage and do not have the means to push for an increase in pay. I know that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has taken the defence brief back on and I wish him well. I hope he starts to resolve some of the problems there.

In her former role, the Leader had a great understanding of carers, particularly, and of the needs of those on welfare. This morning, I listened to a young woman on the radio talking about looking after her elderly parents, one of whom suffers from dementia, and about the fact that no respite care is available. There is no centre open where they can go for a few hours in the day to give respite to the families. The woman pleaded, albeit in a very good-humoured way, that somebody somewhere listen to what she said and raise the matter. I do not have access to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste like the Leader has and I ask that she refer this matter to them.

There are many elderly couples in which one suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's and they are being cared for at home. They have been locked down since early March. It is extremely distressful and difficult for them to get through the day. I understand that those who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's after a period of lockdown adjust to that type of living and to get them out and about is quite difficult. I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to see if there is a way to get centres open, even if only for an hour or two a day, to give that little bit of respite to those who are struggling through this extremely difficult time.

I wish Dr. Tony Holohan well as he takes time out to look after his family. He is a wonderful man.

Senator Cassells spoke about the recklessness of drinking last weekend in Dublin. One distinguished consultant referred to it as being like a day when Dublin had won the all-Ireland, with people falling around the place drunk and no social distancing. I wish to draw attention to the people who served them drink. I know three people who went into a pub, I will not say where, at 6 p.m. and they were still there at 11 p.m. Nobody asked them to leave. There was no meal. On Saturday night, another group of people I know went into another pub on the other side of the city and it was exactly the same. They arrived early, they were allowed to drink until 11 p.m. and nobody asked them to have a meal or to leave. These publicans are reckless and they will cause the industry to be shut down again.