Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will speak specifically to the amendment because the pros and cons of the legislation and the reasons for it have been well debated. Deputy McNamara is proposing that the House, rather than me as Minister, will decide whether to roll over the measures. It is this House and the Seanad that will make that decision. He asked me whether we will do so on 9 November. He asked me what the Covid situation in this country will be on that date. I simply do not know. The fact is that none of us knows. This has been a very difficult and challenging period for everybody because of that uncertainty and the fact that we do not know how this will continue to permeate throughout society or whether the numbers will go up or down. It is important that we have a clause that allows us to extend these measures if needed.

Deputy Murphy asked that there be a debate on any extension of the powers. I have no problem facilitating that. What we would be debating, obviously, would be the extension of the legislation and not the measures therein. I have no problem having a debate if that is what people need. No one can pre-empt what the country will look like or the status of the pandemic on 9 November. We need to include a provision in the Bill that allows us, if necessary, and I hope it will not be necessary, to extend these powers beyond a certain date. I gave a commitment to Deputy Howlin or Deputy Martin Kenny that at no stage will these powers be extended for a long period. Any extension will be for a short period and we will come back to the Dáil if such further extension is required.

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