Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Next week is a big one for the Government. The legislative programme will be announced and the plan for how we are going to live with Covid is also going to be announced and that is very much needed. It is important at this juncture to point out that the public is very much waiting for this and living on every word that is being said by the Government. We need to have a watershed next week whereby all the confusion, messing and internal rivalry within the Government ends. The Government and Ministers must chart a plan, rather than having some Ministers acting as commentators. The Tánaiste is not shy about coming out with statements, to the annoyance of the Taoiseach.

The Minister with responsibility for higher education is, as I have said, acting like an emeritus Minister for Health and the Minister for Health seems to be a spectator in a major game that he does not seem to be a part of. Yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine did not know testing had stopped in meat factories even though he said it was going on. All of this has to stop. I want next week to be a watershed. The Irish people need it to be a watershed because we are heading into a period that we have never faced before, given the winter. I also want the Tánaiste to cover some things in next week's plan that I think are essential.

I say this in a full and heartfelt way. We need a plan that is elderly proofed. We need to look after our elderly. We are heading into six months of winter, which is a difficult time. We need to ensure that the elderly can live their lives. We also need to make sure that people with disabilities, who are the most vulnerable, are looked after. I am sure the Tánaiste agrees. I ask him genuinely to make sure the plan reflects this. People with disabilities must get their treatments and be able to access their programmes. The elderly, in particular, must be able to get out within health guidelines and have stimulation.

We need to do something about access to sporting activities. We need to allow people to socialise in a limited way, whether that is a game of cards or whatever. The elderly have really felt the restrictions and are facing into a very long winter. We need to prioritise them. That is essential.

As my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, has written to NPHET, we need a plan for the tourism industry and travel. We need to work with our European colleagues to embrace a plan for travel that will work and will give some sort of future to the tourism industry, our travel agents and everybody working in the hospitality sector. I would like that plan to be rolled out as part of this.

I know the issues relating to how we roll out testing can cause difficulties. However, the fact that we stopped testing in meat factories means that we need to show next week that we have a comprehensive testing regime that the public can support 100%. If localised lockdowns are being introduced, that has to be based on a rigorous testing regime so that we know what is going on. That also needs to be outlined.

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