Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Senator's last three words were "in the future". She has clearly stated in her that if we were to implement this measure, it would have no practical effect this year because we all know the banks are in a loss-making situation and that is not likely to change on 31 December 2020. The Senator is aware of the volume of supports available that are affecting people's daily lives. I would like the Department to concentrate on the CRSS, the EWSS, the Covid payments and getting funding from Europe for them rather than amending this Bill and bringing it back to the Dáil when we want the President to sign it Bill into law so that it can come into effect as quickly as possible. We would do all that just to introduce a measure that may have an impact when the banks become profitable again. It will certainly have no in the next 12 months. I want to concentrate on the other measures and the priority areas I have just mentioned. That is where my focus as Minister of State will be between now and the end of this year.