Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know and that is a major issue. I knew the answer to that question. We have 38 people, who are not qualified to do so, deciding on the safety or otherwise and the implications of working in the hospitality environment. If the Minister reads the Health Protection Surveillance Centre's weekly reports, as I do and as I am sure her officials do, she will be aware there are outbreaks of Covid-19 in private homes in the region of 6,000 per week, very high outbreaks in residential settings in hospitals, institutions, nursing homes and so on, and outbreaks are creeping up in schools. Collectively, outbreaks in hospitality are quite low. It is in the region of 100 as opposed to 7,000. The issue I have is that any of us who have been to a pub or a restaurant – unfortunately, my nightclub days are over - will find, in most instances, we are asked to show a Covid-19 certificate and to give our name, we are shown to a table, we must wear a mask when walking to and from the toilet and, as we know, there is no dancing, as it seems that is far too dangerous. If we limit controlled hospitality, as has been the practice up to now, we are encouraging people to go to each other’s homes. That is where outbreaks will happen. If you visit my house or I visit your house, I will not sanitise the worktops when you leave and, presumably, you will not do so either. That is why we are all more relaxed at home. The figures show that. Equally, Dr. Holohan, at the weekend, said that the midnight issue would not particularly make much of a difference but it would send a message. I find it reprehensible that we have in some way decided to victimise one sector to be the vehicle with which we send a message to the wider public. Many people are suffering as a result. I put those points to the Minister to get her view on them.