Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I again want to state my solidarity with all the workers who are doing such amazing jobs. I witnessed it again directly this week. Our condolences to all of those who have lost loved ones.

I have six questions for the Taoiseach, some of which I would say will require only brief answers. I will put them to him and give him time to answer. I want to start by complimenting the Taoiseach, which is rare in this House. It is not always the case that Governments listen to Opposition parties and take on board what they are saying but I have seen evidence, whether directly in this House, through committees or through direct conversations with some Ministers - I say "some" in inverted commas - that suggestions put forward have been taken on board. I welcome that. Some time ago, I suggested that the phasing out of the restrictions should be brought down from five phases to four. The Taoiseach announced that last week. I welcome that also.

On the roadmap my former employers in Fáilte Ireland brought out during the week, to be fair, they made a good stab at it, so to speak. It is not their fault but it is unimplementable and not viable for most businesses. Tens of thousands of people are depending on that changing by 29 June. It all hangs around the 2 m versus 1 m distance question. If we are going where we are going with the virus, thanks to all the work that has been done, I would encourage the Taoiseach to announce that in advance to give businesses time to prepare. The same applies to personal services as regards hairdressing and so on. I believe that we are very much dependent on reducing the 2 m to 1 m in respect of the entire tourism and hospitality sector so I would encourage the Taoiseach to do that and give businesses time to prepare. That is my first question, which I ask the Taoiseach to consider.

While the Taoiseach is in listening mode I have two more questions, one of which is on the flu vaccine, which I have asked about previously. I ask the Taoiseach to consider that in the coming calendar year - this may be for two years but particularly as a one-off for this year coming - we would give the flu vaccine to everybody free of charge. It works out at approximately €10 million per each additional half a million people. It would depend on the number of people that take it up. Obviously, we need to ensure that those working professionally in the health service need to take the flu vaccine but we cannot face into flu season while dealing with Covid at the same time.

I would be happy enough if the Taoiseach would just consider it. I think everybody in the House would support it. It is just common sense. I encourage the Taoiseach to take this action.

The handling of the commentary with regard to face masks has been an absolute and chronic disaster. There has been commentary from NPHET and many very eminent experts in disease control, etc., but it has been a disaster. My colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, proposed giving a communication to everyone in the country. The Taoiseach should do this. Workers need to be respected. Nobody should get on public transport without a mask, full stop. People should wear masks in retail outlets to protect workers. They deserve respect and to be protected. I suggest a once-off communication to everybody in the country that would provide examples of masks. In Catalonia, everyone can get a mask in the pharmacy for free and, in addition, can buy one for less than a euro. I ask the Taoiseach to please consider that.

With regard to the health service generally, he said last week that the board of the HSE would release a new plan for non-Covid healthcare. I have been raising this issue here for five or six weeks but we still do not have that plan. That is not acceptable. This is the biggest issue in our country. Ireland Thinks has pointed out that one in three people is not going to appointments with doctors until he or she feels the Covid situation has passed. Where is the plan? Is the issue that the parameters set by NPHET with regard to whether a social distance of 1 m or 2 m must be maintained are so strict that they would cause a crisis in healthcare? Is that why the board does not want to publish the plan? Is it that such a plan would demonstrate the number of appointments that would have to be dropped and that the percentage of people who would be given appointments would be very low as a result of not decreasing the distance to 1 m? Is that the reason?

With regard to cancer screening, Dr. Doireann O'Leary was in contact with me. She is aghast that screening services are not operating. GP services are operating. Such services could easily send on smears. Where is the plan in this regard? We have spent years fighting and saying that screening saves lives. It is not saving lives at the moment and there is no urgency about the issue. I ask the Taoiseach to answer that point.

I have two final quick questions. What is the Taoiseach's personal view on maintaining the Department of Children and Youth Affairs? Does he believe we should have such a Department?

I know he will not be able to fully answer my final question but I would like his opinion. There is an individual from our country who, according to the High Court, is a very senior figure in organised crime on a global scale. According to the Criminal Assets Bureau, he has controlled and managed the operations of the Kinahan organised crime group for some time. He is now rebranding himself as a boxing promoter in the Middle East. One of the most famous individuals involved in that sport has described him as a smart, able and honest man. Our country has to intervene with the United Arab Emirates through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of this individual. We owe it to the victims of that cartel. Our country needs to do this and to do it today. We also need to communicate very strongly with certain sports broadcasters, sports companies and other companies involved in this matter. This is an important juncture. I ask the Taoiseach to highlight, through the Tánaiste and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, how important this issue is to us because of the parasitical, criminal activities of this individual and all associated with him.

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