The House has agreed that, for the duration of the Covid emergency, the rapporteur's report of the Order of Business will be taken as read.

It has been agreed by the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform that, for a trial period of three weeks, a single question shall be put on the business arrangements for the week. Where a member of a party or group objects to the Order of Business, no further contribution may be made by any member of that party or group on the Order of Business. Any objection shall not exceed one minute. The Government shall make a single response to the objections that shall not exceed three minutes. Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed?

Not agreed. The annual impact report from Women's Aid was published today and the findings are absolutely shocking and devastating. Contact with the service has increased by more than 40% since last year. A number of reviews, audits and so on due for completion in the near future will inform the new national strategy for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I accept this cannot be included for business this week, but we need statements and a debate on this matter before we rise for the summer break. I invite the Government and everyone else to support that what was published this morning is shocking stuff.

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I am seeking time for a debate on the serious warnings by the Irish Postmasters' Union of the inevitable collapse of the post office network and up to 200 branch closures in the near future if the Government does not intervene. We have had report after report and investigation, but the Government is not supporting the network. It is directing business away from the post offices, all of which are sole traders. We badly need a debate on this matter. We are told that by July, 875 postmaster-operated offices will face a challenge due to a reduction of 20% in income. Nobody can sustain that. They have come to the fore, as always, and played a gallant part in fighting Covid and helping people in the spirit of ní neart le cur le chéile, the meitheal. We cannot continue to refuse them support or aid. We need a serious debate in this House regarding the future of our post office network.

I agree that the report from Women's Aid on domestic violence and sexual and gender-based violence is particularly worrying. It illustrates the wide-ranging negative impact the pandemic has had on all aspects of our society. The Government would be willing to accommodate a debate on that report before the summer recess. The Women's Aid report shines a light on domestic violence and on how the pandemic has exacerbated the issue. We would be willing to facilitate such a debate.

In respect of the postmasters, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and others in government have been very focused on that issue, including the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton and others. I do not believe the issue was raised at the Business Committee. I do not think anyone sought a debate on this matter at the Business Committee. I will revert to the Chief Whip to see if something can be facilitated in that regard, not for this week, but next week.

Is the business, as proposed for this week, agreed?

Not agreed.