Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will start by acknowledging the hard work that is being done across the public service by our health professionals and, indeed, within the Departments of Health, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Education and Skills and many other Departments. Many people are worried right now, including in the first instance those who are particularly susceptible. The mortality rate is relatively low, compared with some other viruses that have been dealt with globally. The risks for at-risk populations, however, are very serious and those mortality rates climb to worrying levels.

Many people who interact with the public everyday are also worried. I refer to teachers, school principals, taxi and bus drivers and shop workers. Parents are also very concerned. Children are becoming increasingly concerned because of real information they are receiving from the media and, unfortunately, much false and damaging information they are getting on social media. We need to do as much as possible to protect people and to ensure everybody has the best possible information. Some aspects of this are working very well. Political communication has been good and the daily briefings by the health officials have also been very good, as is the HSE website and its Twitter output. Those things are working well.

We can do much better in certain other areas, however. Other social media channels are not being used by the HSE or are being used poorly. The HSE's Facebook channel, for example, is poor. Communications to certain groups needs to be better. For example, school principals, business owners and many others have been in contact with me, as well as with other Members. They are not getting the information they need. We need to make every effort to step this up and target it to particular groups of people who are worried.

In some cases, information is being withheld intentionally and openly withheld, if that is not an oxymoron, from the public. In some cases, we are probably erring too much on the side of withholding information. One example of this concerned the first case and the decision taken on the information concerning the mode of transport from Dublin to Belfast. I am not criticising the Minister or the advice given by the health care officials. However, I saw no benefit in not sharing with the public the mode of transport concerned. I see a real cost in terms of spreading fear and concerns of information being withheld. Unless there are compelling public health grounds, I would ask that as much information be shared as is possible.

In terms of containing the virus, it is clear much good work has been done. I acknowledge the contact tracing work and the testing work done, as well as the securing of supply chains of masks and various other medical supplies.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is slow in some areas in upgrading its advice. Up until two days ago, Italy was still registered as green which is essentially no risk. One had to go about five layers into the Department's website to find any mention of coronavirus and then one had to read through dense text. Are we being overly cautious in categorising it as such? Three or four days ago, Italy should not have been categorised as green. Could we be a bit quicker in some of our responses and clearer in the Department’s communications about the virus?

Schools have still not been directed not to travel to the hot zones, which we have called on for a while. At this point, I do not see any public health benefit of not giving the schools a clear direction. It is not just the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stating generally people should not go to hot zones but actually telling schools they cannot travel to these areas for whatever trips. There needs to be more action in that respect.

Students coming back from hot zones are being told to go to school and if they become symptomatic to come out. Does that need to be revisited at this stage? There is a fine balance. Somebody could become symptomatic in school. As several school principals have told me, these things can spread quite easily within schools because of the environment. Is it time to be a bit more directive and err more on the sign of containment on these issues?

With regard to travel restrictions, I understand we are following EU advice and moving as one with it. However, there are many people coming from Italy, including affected parts of that country, to Dublin this weekend. Is there an argument that those specific flights from specific airports in terms of containment and public health, should be cancelled for the weekend? It is something to be considered.

Obviously, there are serious considerations required in terms of our healthcare capacity. Our health system is suffering from overcapacity in every single area. It concerns me that the Department could not answer questions today around what level of capacity we can deal with before elective surgery, for example, has to be cancelled. I am slightly concerned that we do not have answers to some of those questions.

We need to see much more communication and action from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. We have been trying to get a briefing from the Department but we cannot get one. That concerns me. Business people are getting in touch telling me they are not getting the information. I have looked at the Department's website but all there is is a checklist. Employers are concerned about their duty of care to employees, potential business shocks from this, and what supports might be available. There needs to be a much more comprehensive and open response from that Department.

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