Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the country now enters phase two of the lockdown I once more pay tribute to the many heroes working on the front line, helping to keep us all safe during this period. I also offer my condolences to the family and friends of those who passed away in the last week as a result of this horrible disease. The people of Ireland are putting in a truly great effort in keeping this virus at bay.

We have heard many media reports that the emergency weekly pandemic unemployment payment will be changed shortly. I believe this payment should not be stopped until the economy is allowed to reopen fully. Many people are very worried about the changes that may be introduced. Will the Taoiseach confirm that no changes will happen to the pandemic unemployment payment until the economy is open fully again?

In addition to the social distancing rules I understand we are following the World Health Organization, WHO, guidelines. These are that a safe social distance of 1 m is recommended, but we are maintaining a distance of 2 m. Will the Taoiseach confirm which guidelines are we following in this regard? If we are to take the WHO advice of 1 m it could have a major impact on getting our economy up and running again. Many small and medium size businesses will go to the wall if they are not allowed to reopen soon. I put it to the Taoiseach that we must not allow these businesses to fail. While several measures have been put in place to support these businesses, nothing will replace them being allowed to reopen and trade again.

On Tuesday a demonstration took place in the centre of Dundalk, with similar demonstrations in other parts of the State. I fully understand the anger felt by these people and that the cause they are highlighting needs to be highlighted. The Black Lives Matter cause is very worthy and needs to be highlighted. What has happened in the United States of America is a disgrace. No human deserves to be treated that way. Those responsible should be treated as murderers because, in my view, that is what happened. I have an issue, however, with the large congregation of people that took place in Dundalk town centre. No social distancing took place at all, which is not acceptable. As we have suffered the lockdown restrictions we placed people who are over 70 years of age under a virtual house arrest, we stopped friends and even family members from attending funerals of their loved ones, and families have been unable to visit loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes. People have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep this horrible virus at bay. This week a constituent told me she was unable to attend the wake or the funeral of a close relative because of the restrictions in place, yet these other large gatherings of people are apparently allowed to take place. I fully support the cause that brought people to demonstrate but during this lockdown surely a different form of protest should be organised. I am interested to hear the Taoiseach's views on these protests and whether they should be allowed to take place.

During questions to the Tánaiste some weeks ago, the Tánaiste dismissed my suggestion that a hard Brexit was coming. Indeed, the Tánaiste made light of the point I was trying to raise. It now emerges, and looks likely, that we will have a hard Brexit. The UK Government is also preparing for a hard Brexit. I fear we will sleepwalk into this. Coming as I do from a Border county I know more than most about, and understand the effects of, a hard border.

Will the Taoiseach confirm to me today that the Government has plans in place for a hard border? Will he enlighten us on some of the plans in place for a hard Brexit? We cannot rely on the UK Government to help us. It is quite clear from its actions and its complete lack of keeping promises that it is planning for a hard Brexit. We must protect ourselves should this happen. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that we will be fully prepared for a hard Brexit should it happen?

I listened closely to an interview the Taoiseach gave this week in which he stated Fianna Fáil and the Green Party must agree we need to start paying back some of the money received through the Covid fund within the next two to three years. Such comments worry me greatly. It sounds as though the Taoiseach is preparing for the introduction of austerity. I want to be very clear that the people do not deserve another period of austerity. They will simply not accept it and I will support them in it. People cannot be made to pay for this crisis. Will the Taoiseach support me and confirm that he, as leader of the Government, will not introduce austerity measures or support the introduction of austerity measures as a member of the Government?

During the course of the past week, fires have raged in the Cooley mountains, which have put residents, wildlife and property in great danger. In recent days, a second major blaze was started on the mountains. Last week, a code red forest fire alert was issued to the public. The alert warning requested that many activities would not take place, including the outdoor use of barbecues and fires on forest land and other high-risk areas. Agricultural activities that may present a risk of fire were suspended. Members of the public were reminded to adhere to the regulations in respect of the Covid-19 restrictions. The alert also included that vehicles were not to be parked near site entrances so they would not impede the emergency services. Forest owners and managers and other relevant authorities were to implement fire patrols to exclude all fire activities. It is quite obvious the above advice was ignored by certain members of the public. It is understood the fires in the Cooley mountains were caused by a camp fire. To make matters worse, vehicles were parked at the entrance, which prohibited the fire services from attending the scenes. The damage to property and the distress to residents and wildlife that the fires have caused is disgraceful.

What powers do the authorities have under a code red fire alert to bring action against these people who have caused so much damage to the Cooley mountains? Can any action be brought against those responsible for this reckless act? If no action can be brought, surely we must look at introducing legislation to deal with this type of reckless behaviour. It is simply not good enough for a red alert to be issued and hope everything is okay. We need to back up alerts with real powers.

Will the Taoiseach answer the following questions? What powers do the authorities have under a code red forest alert to bring action against those who ignore the alert? Will the Taoiseach confirm that no changes to the emergency Covid payment will take place until such time as the economy fully reopens? Will the Taoiseach confirm the Government has proper planning in place for a hard Brexit? Will the Taoiseach confirm whose guidelines we are following on social distancing? If we are not following the guidelines of the World Health Organization, on what basis are we not doing so? What are the views of the Taoiseach on the large public gatherings that took place in Dundalk and other areas this week as part of the Black Lives Matter protest? Will the Taoiseach confirm he is not planning to introduce austerity measures to repay the emergency Covid fund? I appreciate the Taoiseach answering as many questions as he can, and if he cannot do so, I would appreciate the answers in writing.

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