Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy makes a valid point about barbers. I have been listening to them in the media recently and heard about the big efforts they have been making to adapt their premises. I heard them talk about bringing one or two customers in at a time. They are going to great lengths and I hope we can make progress on this. As a Government, we must consider the public health advice and I have outlined the timeline in that regard. On pubs, we have been clear about the types that might be able to open, which is those that effectively operate as restaurants. However, let us be clear. Nobody wants to have the pub or restaurant where there is a big outbreak of Covid-19. That is not good for business either, and it is not good for the health of people in the community. We have made much progress and saved many lives so we cannot go backwards. It is a balance. Good, strong public health policy will help our economy, businesses and people, but I have heard the Deputy's comments on that.

I hope we will have news tomorrow on the July provision. I also hope that it will be broader than just the traditional July provision and that my Department and the HSE will also play a role in providing therapies and supports for the reasons the Deputy outlined in terms of early intervention services. I hope to have good news in that regard tomorrow.

I will always prefer to stand here as Minister for Health and take flak for the private hospitals and Citywest Hotel not being as busy rather than stand here and wonder, first, why we did not have them, second, why we ran out of ventilators and, third, why we did not have a field hospital. Thank God we did not need them. If we had to pay some money for that safety net as, effectively, an insurance policy, it was worth every cent. Most taxpayers in the country will agree with that. However, we now must look at the strategy for the future because we are in a different place.

I have already commented on screening. I should point out that anybody who has symptoms should come forward and not wait for a screening test. If somebody has a symptom of cancer, the health service is open today. He or she should ring the GP today.

I will write to the Deputy about St. Brigid's.

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