Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. A number of sites have closed and Sceilg Mhichíl is not the only one. Sites in Galway, Wexford, Laois, Clare, Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Tipperary and Kildare are also closed. They are closed on the basis of health and safety, which is important to point out to the House. We have to be conscious of the potential of the virus to spread because we cannot maintain social distancing.

The Deputy referred to insurance. Insurance is an element for the boatmen but our concern has to be the protection of the people who work on a site or visit it. We have to ensure that if we open a site, we do so in the knowledge that the likelihood of people contracting the virus is minimised or eliminated. The OPW is responsible for this building, for instance. There are no members of the public here any more, for the same reason. We have to ensure we can operate our sites safely and, before we bring people in, that they will be safe.

To respond to Deputy Griffin's point, I am supportive in general of the concept of trying to open as many sites as possible. I will keep him up to date on the specifics of Sceilg Mhichíl. I cannot currently comment further but I am committed to examining whether we can get some sort of roadmap, if not for this year then certainly for next year.

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