Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a difficult time, especially with there being so many unknowns and variables. It is not just about health and the economy or health versus the economy; it is also about society. We must be very sensitive to the needs of society, including people living on their own who are not able to see their grandchildren or meet other people, third level students who are going to college but staying at home, people who are working on the front line and as part of their downtime watch television programmes about life on the front line, sixth year students and their daily challenges, people who love to dance but dance no more and children who just want to play.

There is an understanding that this is the way things will be for an undefined period. People also understand that whatever it takes to protect lives must be done. However, we also have a duty to give people hope. It should not be false hope. The opposite of hope is despair. The budget was an important step in giving hope to business owners who are worried about the future of their businesses and livelihoods, and workers who are worried about their jobs. It was a statement of intent in building a bridge to help navigate our way through these stormy seas. Cuirim fáilte roimh an infheistíocht agus na hacmhainní a cuireadh isteach sa Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, fá choinne na comharchumainn, caipitil agus ritheadh Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Foras na Gaeilge. Fáiltím freisin roimh an tacaíocht agus na hacmhainní atá i gceist do m’iar-Roinn, an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna.

We must be very careful in terms of our consistency as we work and navigate our way through this situation. It may have been officially announced since I began speaking that counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan will be going to level 4 in response to what has happened in Northern Ireland. We must look at what is happening in level 3. What we are achieving in level 3 will be looked at very closely. We had been making progress in Dublin and Donegal. If it is decided tonight to move Donegal to level 4, that will be difficult territory because retail will stay open in Northern Ireland. I hope that even at this late stage there will be some consideration given to ensuring retail is protected because we are on the eve of Christmas. People have started their Christmas shopping. I return to my original point about hope versus despair. The businesses that were given hope yesterday are now looking at a different trajectory this evening.

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