Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is because the Government has decided, based on public health advice, that we would introduce it on a phased basis. Any time anybody goes into somebody else's house there is a risk of transmitting the virus. We are trying to minimise that spread. We are starting with front-line healthcare workers, but as the Deputy will see in the plan, we intend to expand childcare schemes further as we go through the plan. I take the point the Deputy has made about An Garda Síochána. We are starting with front-line healthcare workers.

See this speech in context