Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My warmest congratulations to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on her election. I have no doubt she will serve the office proudly. I am more than happy to do the question-and-answer session in whatever way works for Deputies, be that in taking questions and answers together or responding to all questions at the end of a contribution.

I welcome the opportunity to update the House on Covid-19 and the nation's ongoing response to it. Before I begin, I wish to extend my sympathies to the friends and families of those who have died in recent months due to contracting Covid-19. I know I speak for all Members when I say that all of these people, their friends and families continue to be in our thoughts as we strive to emerge from this incredibly difficult time. This vicious disease has taken an awful and heartbreaking toll in terms of life and in terms of the health of many people who have not died. They are very much in our thoughts at this time. In particular, I pay tribute to those healthcare workers who have lost their lives while caring for others during this pandemic. Healthcare workers have literally given their lives to keep the rest of us safe. Our healthcare workers have played a vital role in bringing us to the point we are at today, where we have been able to reopen the country and step-back most of the restrictions on normal life that had to be introduced in March. We avoided the awful scenes we saw in some countries around Europe, with patients in a lot of distress having to be treated in car parks of hospitals, etc.

As the House is aware, much progress has been made in this country in tackling Covid-19. We have seen the gradual reopening of our society and economy. We were not in a position to move to the final phase, phase 4, of the roadmap, which has been moved forward. This decision was taken following careful consideration of the current status of the disease in Ireland and the recommendations of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET. It is clear from the experience here in Ireland and abroad that a cautious approach is required when dealing with Covid-19 and when reopening our society, communities and economy. The situation deteriorated for several weeks. The number of cases per week over the past four weeks are as follows: week 1, 61 cases rising in week 2 to 93 new cases, in week 3 to 124 new cases and last week to 143 new cases. The average number of contacts has grown to more than five per person close contacts of those infected. The two-week cumulative figure per 100,000, one of the key figures that public health experts look at, was down at approximately nine and rose to 22, such that it more than doubled in quite a short timeframe. As we all know, the R-naught number rose from below 1, which we are all happy with, to between 1.2 and 1.8, which obviously was of serious concern to public health and the wider community. However, I am delighted to be able to report that over the past ten days the situation has stabilised. The R-naught number is down again to somewhere between 0.7 and 1.4. That is the latest information I have as of this morning. The best estimate, I am told, is that the R-naught number is now at 1.1, such that is has come back down again in the last ten days, which we are glad to note. The five-day average is also down again now to 16 new cases per day. Yesterday, it was seven. Contract tracing is working well. We know, critically, where the vast majority of cases are and these people are being contacted. The public health experts believe this stabilisation is linked critically to renewed efforts from the public from around two weeks ago. I thank every person in this country for listening to the public health advice and for the solidarity they have shown. What we are seeing two weeks since that renewed focus by the public is that the numbers are beginning to come down again. This shows that the solution to this pandemic does not like in the Oireachtas, although we obviously have a role to play, or with NPHET, which is leading us on the advice, but with every family, parent, employer and citizen in this country. We will suppress and beat this vicious virus by acting together.

Internationally, things are moving in the opposite direction, with a significant acceleration of the pandemic. The virus requires only a small widow of opportunity to re-emerge. It is critical that we follow the advice here to keep the virus transmission as low as possible. It also essential that we are able to recommence essential health services, education services and to reopen our schools and social services, which have been paused or curtailed in recent months. This is at the heart of the Government's cautious approach to how we reopen society.

Ireland is, therefore, continuing to operate in phase 3. As the House will know, we paused moving to phase 4. Our retailers have reopened, as has a good part of the hospitality sector. The data and evidence will continue to be reviewed in advance of a decision on the appropriate stance regarding phase 4, which is now due to commence on 10 August. Our understanding of the disease and its characteristics and how it is transmitted is continuing to evolve. Clinicians, scientists and researchers across the world are working to learn more about Covid-19. This is the kind of work that, for example, recently led weight to arguments in favour of more widespread use of face masks. As Deputies will be aware, face masks are mandatory on public transport. The Government is asking that we all wear them in retail and regulations to make that mandatory are being prepared. The World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have recommended the use of face coverings to complement the other measures that we have become familiar with recently, such as maintaining a 2 m distance from other people, washing our hands frequently and adhering to appropriate coughing and sneezing etiquette. As the House is aware, the Government has responded to this advice with the introduction of the requirements that I have laid out.

The House will be aware that this week a list of 15 countries with similar or better epidemiological situations to Ireland was published. This is to ensure that the appropriate public health measures apply to international travel based on the country of origin from which people are travelling to Ireland. People travelling from these 15 countries will not be advised to restrict their movements on arrival into Ireland. The list will be reviewed every two weeks. If the epidemiological situation in a country deteriorates that country will be removed from the list. For the benefit of the House, the latest information I have is that not a single case of Covid-19 has been recorded as coming from any of the 15 countries that are the list. Additional measures to strengthen existing arrangements, including the development of an electronic passenger form and a testing protocol for symptomatic passengers are being implemented. However, the overarching Government advice remains as it was. The safest thing to do is not to travel. We are advising people to holiday at home this summer. It is essential that we ensure that all of the sacrifices made to date are not undermined by any complacency with regard to the risk represented by international travel.

Maintaining the rate of virus transmission at the lowest possible level is key to ensuring that we can recommence many vital health, social and educational services. Our public health teams, the HSE and NPHET continue to closely monitor the prevalence of the disease in Ireland and they are endeavouring to suppress it as quickly as possible., wherever it appears. We see a united effort by everyone living in Ireland to maintain the solidarity that has marked the past number of months and to continue to follow the public health advice to keep apart, to wash our hands and, more recently, to wear face coverings on public transport and in shops.

I know the House will join me in thanking every person and every sector for their hard work to date. I encourage us all to keep going and keep this virus at the lowest level possible.

I can assure the House that the Government is continuing to rely on the best available evidence and advice in responding to this pandemic. We continue to prioritise public health and the suppression of Covid-19 with a phased, careful, and step-wise reopening of our society, our communities and the economy. We have seen the rapid re-emergence of the virus in other countries in the course of reopening. We are as a result moving in a cautious fashion and remain committed to tackling this virus wherever it appears.

I wish to speak about political solidarity, something we discussed yesterday in this House. Since the start of this, political parties and politicians in Ireland have been fantastic in providing solidarity and in working together. This does not mean there is no criticism, of course there is and must be. One of the things that marks Ireland’s approach, and which the WHO said is linked to the fact that this virus is suppressed, is that politicians across this House have continued to work together.

I will finish on this point as I know my time is up. I would say to the Deputies in this House that my sense, and I believe their sense, is that perhaps some of that solidarity has strained over the past week or two. If I had a part to play in that, I would like to apologise to the House for that.

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