Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will make three quick points. First, I learned from the Cabinet meeting's response today that the Government is proposing a six-month review of the Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020 the Labour Party will introduce tomorrow. Six months is frankly stupid. This is a Covid measure. Is this a laugh? We are proposing this Bill to help. The Taoiseach often criticises the Opposition. This is a constructive measure, as he said earlier. Today we found out from Tusla that there have been 63 cases of Covid-19 in early years services. These are some of the lowest paid workers in Ireland. They must make a choice between going to work with a symptom and not getting paid. That is what the Bill addresses. I ask the Taoiseach not to do this tomorrow. I am saying this in a constructive way. We need sick pay legislation to fight Covid-19. We are one of only five countries in the world that does not have it.

Second, will the Taoiseach indicate what the criteria are for walk-in testing centres? We had one in Rathkeale, for instance. The northern part of Limerick city has a 14-day average of 126.8 Covid infections per 100,000 population. That is higher than counties Louth, Waterford, Leitrim or Donegal. It is one of the most deprived areas of the city. What are criteria for bringing in a walk-in testing facility because north Limerick desperately needs one?

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