Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask a series of questions on one topic and would like those to be responded to. I will leave some time. I would be happy to take replies to two other subsequent questions in writing.

The Travelodge hotel in Swords is one of a number in that hotel chain that houses asylum seekers as well as other guests, including airline staff. On 7 March, a guest returned from Bergamo in Italy, which at the time was the European epicentre of the pandemic. That person was hospitalised and diagnosed with Covid-19. The remaining members of the guest's travel party remained in the hotel with instructions to self-isolate and stayed until 22 March. However, on 18 and 19 March, a group of 70 asylum seekers who had been resident in that hotel for the entire time where there was a confirmed infection was at short notice split up into two separate groups and moved to two centres. No testing was done, but I know the test criteria were different then. One of those centres was the Skellig Star in Cahersiveen in Kerry, which went on to have a cluster. People felt very scared about that, as has been well articulated since.

On 6 April, I wrote to the Minister's office seeking clarity as to why such a wholesale moving of people had happened at a time when the public health advice was for people to stay at home and urging people not to go to holiday homes. Despite this, these people were moved from one side of the country to the other, particularly those who went to Kerry. The Department's reply was that the decision to move people had been taken for their own health and safety, yet subsequent information which came into the public domain suggests that either the Department was not informed about the confirmed case in the Swords hotel from which the 70 asylum seekers were moved or the Department was informed and decided to move them anyway. I ask the Minister to address that particular point. On what date was the Department informed? Was it before 18 March?

With confirmed cases in Cahersiveen now, there is limited scope to self-isolate. What are the plans for that facility now? Obviously, moving to an own hall door is the preferred option. In the immediate aftermath of the 70 asylum seekers being moved from the Travelodge hotel in Swords, can the Minister confirm that another 30 to 40 asylum seekers were moved into that hotel in Swords? If so, what sanitation arrangements were put in place in advance of that? I have been told that within a week of their being moved, a number of staff in that hotel tested positive for Covid-19. Is the Swords hotel still being used for direct provision? Have there been more confirmed cases?

I ask the Minister about different advice from the HSE. In his earlier statement, he said that three people sharing a room was in line with HSE guidance. We heard a briefing from the Chief Medical Officer a few days ago and when asked that particular question he said that he would not have viewed three non-family members sharing a room as recommended. Is there a difference of opinion with that advice? I ask the Minister to address these issues.

I would be happy to receive a written reply to my remaining questions.

A human rights impact assessment has been sought. Is the Minister open to putting that in place? On the Courts Service, the Bar Council suggested that some ordinary crimes could be tried by non-jury courts on consent. Has that been discussed with the Department? Is the Minister involved in discussions on putting mandatory arrangements in place at airports to ensure compliance by passengers in terms of providing notification of the location at which they will be staying? If so, I ask the Minister to outline those details.

See this speech in context