Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In general I would be slow to agree to any additional legislation unless it is absolutely necessary and I am glad a sunset clause has been introduced in this Bill so that, in nine or ten weeks, the provisions will lapse.

It seems that publicans are being singled out nationally and there is not the same rush in the media and with legislators to identify the real outbreaks over the past four or five weeks, which have been in the meat factories. The new regulations and legislation seem to have identified sporting events as an issue, despite them causing a very low rate of transmission in my county. I call on the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, to show the evidence indicating transmission arising from sporting events.

As a number of previous contributors have noted, we need additional resources before additional legislation. In the 12 months to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a serious problem with Garda resources in Killarney, particularly on a Saturday night. I call on the Minister to make available more resources in this regard.

Legislation will be introduced relating to publicans. There are one or two rogue publicans who have not complied with planning legislation and have operated in parts of their premises that are not even licensed.

These regulations have not been enforced. I would be surprised if this legislation is.

I can see the need for regulations. Many publicans I have spoken to have said they will go along with them for the nine-week period if it will enable them to open their premises as quickly as possible. However, I worry that enforcement will not happen in rural areas. There is already licensing and planning legislation in place. It has not been complied with, and I wonder if this will be.

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