Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach may be aware, I have repeatedly highlighted the Government's failure to carry out even the most basic human rights assessment of any of the draconian legislation enacted by this Dáil, including the most recent Bills on hotel mandatory quarantine and the consolidation of four separate pieces of legislation into one. While this might be understandable, in the initial months, following the declaration of a pandemic, back on 11 March 2020, when there was a lack of information, a sense of urgency and an overwhelming sense of fear, almost 22 months later, it is simply unacceptable and unforgivable.

The importance of carrying out a human rights assessment has been highlighted, repeatedly, by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. It has simply been ignored. Amongst many concerns, it has highlighted that the regulations restricting rights under emergency legislation, without Oireachtas scrutiny, despite the Taoiseach's rhetoric, are there since March 2020. Thorough, effective scrutiny is necessary for a valid proportionality assessment, as required under the Constitution and human rights law, for any laws that actually or potentially restrict rights.

It said, amongst many other things, that Government must demonstrate that such measures are necessary and proportionate to a specific, legitimate aim and that they constitute the most minimal interference with rights possible in the situation. It goes on, foolishly in terms of what the Government has done, to say the importance of clarity of messaging is crucial to instil public confidence and understanding of new laws. The clarity of message is absolutely crucial to bring all of us on board when we face a public health threat of the magnitude we have faced.

Instead of that assessment, on even the most basic level, we have got the language of division, demonisation and discrimination. The current spin, which has changed many times to suit Government agenda or indeed some of the pharmaceutical companies, is now all about personal responsibility. That is deeply duplicitous, because for those who have reflected, researched and come to a considered decision that a vaccination is not for them, for one of many reasons, this group, which is far from homogenous, is now the subject of appalling comments and screaming headlines. I will refer to letters I received from a consultant on two occasions and I am sure he has also written to other Deputies, to highlight he is absolutely for vaccination and people should take it, but he also highlights the group of people that has had an adverse reaction to the first or second dose, or for other reasons and for which absolutely no provision has been made.

The Taoiseach's spin hides, obfuscates and confuses what has not been done. It ignores what the Policing Authority reports have consistently told us, that the vast majority of people in Ireland have been surprisingly compliant. It ignores the Council of Europe resolution, which is very detailed and the Taoiseach might read it some time. It talks about the importance of looking at the voluntary aspect of vaccinations and bringing people-----

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