Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We too in the Rural Independent Group have significant concerns. The lack of clarity is astounding. Today's announcement brought no further clarity. The regulations were changed last Thursday week when the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020 was debated, voted on and passed by the House. The regulations were supposed to run out last Sunday night, but I do not know whether that happened. The Taoiseach could not tell me that when I spoke to him. We do not know where we are. Why can the Taoiseach not explain the situation to the House? Why is the Government taking on well known and high-powered PR companies? The people want empathy. They do not want sympathy anymore but want support and clarity instead. They are not getting them and we need them, so we are not happy either to support the proposal.

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