Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

NPHET met last Thursday and decided that, while concerned with the trends and the increase in infections, it did not see a reason to move to level 3 nationally. Three days later, it recommended a move to level 5 nationally, in effect reinstating the lockdown from the spring and early summer. NPHET has pointed to an increase in the 14-day incidence rate in over-65s and 31 outbreaks in nursing homes, seven of which were reported in the last week.

There are 25 open outbreaks among vulnerable groups, with ten in direct provision centres, seven in homeless settings and another seven in Traveller communities. NPHET also made a point about increasing admissions to hospital and ICU beds, with 243 of 281 critical care beds now occupied.

Why are we in this situation? The Taoiseach and the Government had months over the summer to prepare for the inevitable second wave. Why are there still only 38 high-dependency beds in the public system? We all knew the perilous state our public health system was in when this pandemic struck in February and March. We were overly reliant on acute hospitals, emergency departments, EDs, with a bed-occupancy rate of 95% and a severe shortage of ICU beds. Germany, for example, has 37 ICU beds per 100,000 of its population whereas we have 6.5 ICU beds per 100,000.

It was only last week that we had a discussion in this Chamber about the proposed HSE winter plan. Serious questions have been raised by organisations representing nurses, doctors and consultants about our ability to deliver on the plan, particularly the increase in qualified staff that would be necessary to deliver on it.

I must also raise the issue of track and trace. I note that in the winter plan it is only by November that the necessary levels of staff dedicated to providing track and trace will be reached, allowing HSE personnel currently operating in the system to return to their normal duties. Can we continue to meet the level of 100,000 tests and traces per week?

Having flattened the curve due to the lockdown in the early part of the year, there was an opportunity to prepare that was not taken. We can contrast that with how quickly the Government moved to end the bans on evictions and rent increases and cut the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and temporary wage subsidy scheme. The move to level 3 nationally will put thousands of jobs at risk, particularly in the hospitality sector. The Restaurants Association of Ireland is warning that 180,000 jobs are at risk. It is entirely possible that the Government will be forced into a turn in the next couple of weeks and will move to level 5. Such a move would have catastrophic effects on jobs and livelihoods, as the Taoiseach has said. He has also made the point that those on the lowest pay are most affected by the restrictions under level 3 and would be most affected by the restrictions at level 5. Will the Taoiseach make a statement that in next week's budget, the Government will restore the PUP and the wage subsidy scheme to their previous levels? Will he introduce a ban on evictions and rent increases?

See this speech in context