Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

House parties have been a particular issue in Cork on an ongoing basis. They are having a negative effect on neighbourhoods and communities. This did not begin during Covid. The communities of Magazine Road, College Road and Connaught Avenue and surrounding areas of Cork have been negatively affected by house parties for years, but it has got particularly bad during the lockdown and the Covid crisis where there have been parties night after night. People who are self-isolating and cocooning, following the guidelines and doing everything right are living in fear because of what the house parties and the people next door are bringing to their communities. Will the Government liaise with these communities and the gardaí to see what we can put in place for their protection? It has to stop. It has been going on for years and we must call an end to it now to protect these vulnerable people, their families and communities.

I will support the Bill because we need to stick together to support the guidelines and the medical advice. It is crucial that it contains the 9 November sunset clause because these kinds of laws cannot be ongoing. They must be short, sharp and to the point. The Government needs to do more to get its messaging clear and to show leadership. Many people are confused. There have been conflicting statements. As is the case with sporting events, 12-stop meetings like AA and gamblers anonymous meetings are not allowed to operate even though they are vital services for people in recovery. People are worried about flights in and out of the country and about testing and tracing. The Government needs to show leadership and let people know it understands and is working for everyone together.

Today we are in the Convention Centre. My two daughters went into school classrooms this morning. How can we justify the expenditure on a building like this when Leinster House is empty? We have to make a decision to go back. If people can go to work and children can go to school, how can we be here in this big auditorium with all the space between us when Leinster House is idle? The money we are spending here could be spent on healthcare or schools or generally better spent.

I met publicans in Cork. I know the vintners there and they need support. I call on the Government, if the health advice allows it, to open the pubs. I trust the vintners and publicans. I know many of them personally. These family-run businesses need support. They are the last businesses in Ireland which remain closed and it does not seem fair.

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