Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am willing to co-operate with the Opposition. It is, however, very difficult at times to ascertain if Deputy Cullinane is being genuinely constructive or deliberately using every available opportunity to undermine. I am willing to engage but the invitation went out on Friday evening to the people on NPHET, to those in the HSE and to the CMO and others. I am willing to clarify if that is true. These people were working extremely hard on the measures that had to be brought in on Friday, they briefed all the Deputies and Senators from Dublin late into Friday evening, as they did before for Kildare, Sligo and Leitrim. People are available now and it is unfair to suggest that people from NPHET or the HSE are not available. They have, generally speaking, been available to Members of the House, to members of the Covid-19 committee, and were available to Members and councillors in Laois, Offaly and Kildare when the severe restrictions were introduced there. I am simply saying that I have no issue with a debate on the plan itself. I want the winter initiative announced and launched this week. People are working on that because it is very important for our health service for the next six months in managing Covid-19. I am not involved with the Covid-19 committee and this is a matter for the committee itself.

See this speech in context