Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon Mr. Trevyaud and everyone in Killarney. I have a slightly different view from Mr. Treyvaud in relation to the domestic green certificate. Restaurants could have been trading for the last four weeks had calls that I made in March to move on such an idea had been acted on. Now we are heading into July and we are starting to look at this. As far as I can see, it is far too late. I do not like the idea of domestic green certificates. However, other countries are using the system and it is working well.

Throughout this pandemic, we have taken a different approach to different age cohorts at different times. If we cast our minds back, there was a time when elderly people were being asked to cocoon. That was an age-specific measure. They were the ones who really lost out in that regard. However, as a stepping-stone to reopening and to a sustainable, long-term approach, in that we could have future variants and we want to avoid future lockdowns, we should pursue this. Of course, it would have to be worked out with industry. I welcome that is happening today, but it is far too late. Mr. Treyvaud said he was uneasy about this. On antigen testing, which is also delving into someone's personal health issues, would he feel comfortable with checking on entry to restaurants?

I have shared his view for a long time. I do not get the logic of allowing people to dine indoors in a hotel, but not allowing them to dine indoors in the restaurant next door. I have called on NPHET to brief all backbenchers. So far, only Ministers have been getting these briefings. To me, the figures do not add up. These figures are a doomsday scenario, considering that 40% of people are fully vaccinated, and 23% or 24% have had one vaccination.

NPHET should brief all of us in the Oireachtas. I want to ask it if it can point to any particular spikes or outbreaks as a result of indoor dining. Unless there is overwhelming evidence that this is a problem, it is over-reacting to make the type of recommendation that was made yesterday.