Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his attendance earlier today and for the time he spent at the Covid committee along with members of NPHET yesterday. We had a frank and open discussion, including suggestions from members for how we might further engage with the public. As has been said in this session and in others, we are in uncharted waters. Nobody has the right answer. We are learning as we go. It is important to listen to suggestions and take them on board. We all need to work together.

I also welcome this opportunity to discuss the Government's resilience and recovery plan, the Roadmap for Living with Covid-19. I note that the national framework is built on three pillars: healthy people, strong businesses and resilient communities. I will touch on those in the time I have. With the roadmap, there is a doubling of the public health workforce and the publication of the guidance on visits to long-term residential care. The doubling of the public health workforce is critical because we need more staff there. I welcome that the recruitment is under way. On the guidance on the long-term residential care, many if not all of us have had contact from constituents who have loved ones in nursing homes. They want an easing of restrictions so that they can visit them. I welcome that that is contained in the plan. It gives a clear roadmap for those families who wish to visit loved ones in residential care settings.

I hope the Government will be able to develop an all-island response, both North and South. I know the acting CMO here in the Republic is in discussions with his counterpart in the North. That is a very important part of any future plan.

Care and assistance in our communities, which is one of the three pillars in the roadmap, is critical. The local authorities are playing a crucial role in this. As I have mentioned in the Chamber previously, the local authority community calls represent an essential part of engaging with those who are isolating or cocooning. Volunteers in sports clubs and other groups have given their time to deliver groceries and medicines to people. I also commend the library service which is delivering audiobooks and engaging with those who cannot or do not want to leave their homes.

I hope the Government will take this on board. As we work with this roadmap in the next six or nine months - it could be longer - we need to bear in mind outpatient appointments and screening services. Many people with other ailments may be nervous of going into a hospital or healthcare setting. It is very important to keep those services running as much as possible, irrespective of the level we are at. It is equally important that partners and husbands are permitted to attend maternity appointments. That issue needs to be dealt with.

Earlier my colleagues spoke about sports. While training is taking place and it is very important for children, it is critical for mental health. The green ribbon campaign was launched today. The two of them are part and parcel.

I hope there will be improvements to the Covid app. I suggested some improvements through the parliamentary question system and the Minister might take them on board.

See this speech in context