Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. I have been listening intently, both in my office and here.

I wish to ask a question on which I imagine the witnesses and certainly some of their members are spending time, which is the strategy for ensuring that we can reopen our economy and our businesses, big and small, and ensure that they continue to operate a high level of capacity. Both Mr. McCoy and Mr. McDonnell are probably familiar with an open letter to Government written by 1,000 of Ireland's scientists yesterday in which they essentially made the point that in their view the speed at which we are reopening, coupled with what they believe are insufficient containment measures, means that there is a very real risk of a large second wave. One of the implications of that second wave would be businesses having to shut down all over again.

I have two questions. What would be the impact if we have this second wave and the 1,000 scientists are right, meaning that businesses would need to close again in October and November? The letter also makes the point that businesses are planning on reopening at a reduced capacity. I have tried to get an answer to the following question but have failed thus far. For how long will that reduced capacity remain the norm? I asked the witnesses at this morning's session to outline the plan. Is the plan for the entire country to operate at a reduced capacity for the next two years or four years until we have a vaccine? Is the plan that businesses, healthcare facilities and schools could fully open after Christmas? Have IBEC and ISME members received any communication stating that while we cannot predict the future perfectly, the measures we are putting in place are with a goal of being able to fully reopen by, for example, the end of the year? Has there been any communication covering if and when businesses can reopen?