Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I assure t he Deputy that the hospital board is keeping a vigilant eye on costs and is very much on the case in protecting the taxpayer's interests. I have to put that on the record. The board has kept the Minister informed in respect of the efforts it has been making in that regard.

There will be significant domestic tourism activity this year. That is important to weigh up. Our travel advisory is consistent. We are advising people not to travel abroad except for essential reasons. As a result there has been a significant demand on domestic facilities, including hotels and so on. Again, the message has to be that while obviously we want people to enjoy themselves during the summer, they should do so in a socially responsible way. In this phase of Covid-19, personal responsibility is essential and is key to keeping the spread of the virus down. It is a very dangerous virus. What worries me is that the age profile of new cases is going down. It is important to convey to people the serious potential long-term impact that getting this virus can have on one's health. That is why, in all of the holiday locations across the country, people should be conscious of that and behave appropriately.

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