Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had no idea how many people are unable to bear this. The Minister talked about causing unnecessary anxiety by the use of the word "trampoline" and I very much accept his explanation yet he is talking about another lockdown in circumstances where we have - I repeat - six people in ICU. I regret each and every one of them desperately. I lost a very close relative earlier this year and I know that no matter what age somebody is, we do not want to lose somebody close to us. We are talking about national priorities. We have six people in ICU and 22 in hospital with Covid-19. At the height of this we had 1,100 people in hospital and 120 in ICUs yet the Minister is talking about a lockdown again. Has he any idea of the effect that is having? Forget about the economy for a moment. We cannot forget it about it for too long because something has to fund our healthcare system. They do not fund themselves in any country in the world. Has the Minister any idea what effect it is having on mental health, on people's psyches and spirits? How can he possibly talk about a lockdown given the figures? It flies in the face of reason. We all have eyes and a capacity to reason. We are all living in a post-Enlightenment world.