Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In response to my last question, Dr. Nabarro said that he expects to see schools and education facilities opening quickly. Does he expect that the 2 m distancing will be maintained in schools? Does he expect that will be respected? Will it be the norm throughout Europe and the developed world?

That would mean looking into the future. Most importantly, when it comes to schools, we need to be doing everything for the adults who congregate at the school place, whether they are teachers, parents or anybody else, because that is where the major potential for spreading the disease lies. Second, it is necessary to try to ensure the best possible educational experience for children. I am one of those people who has been distressed by the number of months that children of all ages have lost in their education. As to whether it will be 2 m or 1 m in school, I understand that between the children the approach is one of bubbles which is very promising and I expect that to remain the case. I suspect that for the teachers and parents the rule in schools will be the same as the rule everywhere else. If there is a decision to try to move from 2 m to 1 m for any reason, then I am sure that will take place in the schools as well.

I would encourage everybody, and this is my last word, to stick with the basic principle that it is a comprehensive package of interventions that we have to use to keep the threat low. If there is going to be a decision to get it down to zero, then that comprehensive package must be super-strong and maintained for a long time. It will also include action at borders, because that is the only way one can keep it at zero. If there is going to be a willingness to tolerate that there will be some cases appearing but they will be dealt with very quickly at local level by well-organised local authorities, co-ordinated with others, then that will become the norm. There will be odd cases but they will be managed very fast. I would like really to ensure that whatever standards are adopted are adopted wholeheartedly across the country, and if there is a need for adaptation because of local flare-ups, that everybody understands why that is happening, using the kind of indicators that I know the Government is looking at.

I thank the committee for this chance to talk. I hope this was some help.