Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like the Minister, I wish to express my sympathy to the family and friends of those who have been lost to this disease. My thoughts are with all those who have been bereaved. I thank again all the front-line staff. One section of the front-line staff I wish to thank is the Garda. Last night I was driving home to Sligo and was stopped by gardaí in Castlebaldwin. They asked me where I was coming from and where I was going to. As a citizen of this country whose grandfather was one of the first gardaí in An Garda Síochána, I again thank the Garda for helping to dissipate this threat against our country and our citizens. It is not the first time since the foundation of the State that the brave men and women of An Garda Síochána have stood up and defended this country and its people and institutions against threats. I wish to put on the record how proud I am of the men and women of An Garda Síochána, past and present. I have said that here before, and sometimes we do not say it loud enough. The gardaí who stopped me were courteous and inquisitive but very professional, and again I thank them.

If staff go away on holidays and they are supposed to self-isolate on their return, are the employers responsible to oversee their staff in this regard, be it in education, hospitals or the public service? Is there an obligation on the employees or any mechanism in place?

Perhaps this is a curveball. The High Court has ruled that Gemma O'Doherty and John Waters must pay the High Court costs for the failed attempt to challenge the laws introduced by the caretaker Government. It is a five-figure sum. What are the Minister's views on that, or does he have any?

Finally, people have been applauding and criticising the Swedish approach. Sweden has a softer approach towards curbing the spread of Covid-19. It did not impose a strict lockdown, and there is for and against on that. Does the Minister have any views on the Swedish approach to Covid-19?

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