Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Religious practice is a human right under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Obviously, it is a practice that has been mainly deleted for approximately 1 million people each week in this country. Those candles are used. People light candles and pray for a dead loved one or an issue of great importance to them. Faith can offer strength to people to deal with some of the darkness we all experience at present. Even the Minister said that these candles are typically used in that environment. In addition, from the church's perspective, it has experienced, like everyone else, a radical fall in income over the last number of months because its buildings are closed. I ask the Minister to reconsider. It is a small detail in the scheme of things, but for many individuals it is a very big thing.