Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Sherlock. Something quite significant happened at last week's meeting of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response that we are now seeing play out. When asked about the strategy we would pursue, and whether we would try to eliminate or suppress the virus, the acting Chief Medical Officer said that we would be living with the virus for the foreseeable future. That comment was backed up by the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, at the time and again by the Taoiseach today. We are now in the space where we have accepted it as Government policy that we are to live with the virus. This is the understandable and sensible path to take at this time.

In order to live with the virus, every sector must have rules, so I understand the principles underpinning this legislation. I am delighted that there is a sunset clause. If, however, the legislation is applied correctly, as I am sure it will be by An Garda Síochána, it will provide a structure under which all hospitality establishments, including pubs that are currently closed, should be allowed to open and operate safely. This will ensure that they can finally catch up with the other establishments in their own communities that have been able to open in the past couple of months and steal a march on their rivals.

It is clear that there has been an inherent unfairness as this has gone on over the past few weeks. We were informed that only restaurants were to open but every Deputy knows that there are pubs which have opened because they can serve food. There is a difference, despite such pubs obeying rules. These businesses compete with pubs that have been unable to open. If this legislation is passed into law next week, it will be time to look at all hospitality establishments and ensure that fairness applies across the board.

Nobody is taking the virus lightly. I have every confidence that the owner of an optician shop, a wet pub or a pub that serves food, an estate agent or any other business will abide by the regulations in order to ensure that customers are looked after and enjoy services in a safe environment. Those businesses may not survive in the current climate and the potential customers of a service will not use it unless they feel safe. In that regard, I welcome what the Bill could achieve.

Beyond this, what encourages me even more is that a roadmap will be produced in the next two weeks. This will be key and it is something I have sought for a number of weeks. I asked the Minister for Health for such a roadmap at last week's meeting of the Covid-19 committee but he was unable to give me any kind of timeline. He indicated that we would be debating a roadmap in the Dáil in the coming weeks. There has been a change of mind on the part of the Government since that exchange at the committee and there is now a commitment to produce a roadmap in two weeks.

The roadmap will not be just for the hospitality sector. It should be for every sector that is currently being left behind or operating without any hope. We have thousands of workers in the aviation sector who are living with very little hope, with the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. They have had very little from the Government in terms of engagement and job or industry protection. There has been nothing really and they are at the mercy of their employers, who are using this pandemic to bring through a long-standing desire for cuts in employee numbers and terms and conditions. It is disgraceful that the Government has ignored the matter to this point. The roadmap must include the aviation and arts sectors. Deputy Costello spoke about the arts sector and the vibrant night-time economy. People in the arts sector again feel that they will be last on the list. When will they get to come back? The roadmap must also be clear about the return of our normal health services, including screening services, which are key elements.

As we begin this Dáil term, we must provide leadership in order that we do not add to any unnecessary concern or potential hysteria. I was very disappointed to hear the contribution from the Fianna Fáil Member from Clare, Deputy Cathal Crowe, about something that emerged on social media two weeks ago. The Deputy opened with "I saw a video on TikTok", and then used words and phrases like "treasonous" and "akin to manslaughter" but he does not appear to have done any sort of research to back up what he said. His was one of the most reckless contributions I have heard in this House in a long time. The girls in that video did something juvenile and are paying a heavy price for that in their community. The Health Service Executive is in that community, looking after the clusters and testing the people who need it. That is what is happening on the ground. We in this House, as legislators and leaders, must ensure that we can hold the Government to account without contributing to any unnecessary hysteria.

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