Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no shutdown of that type of activity, which continues. That type of misinformation is unfortunate. Regarding the level of preparedness, I will organise a briefing for Oireachtas Members at which we can go through all the issues and give all the ammunition and information Deputies need to give to their constituents in terms of preparation.

Deputy O'Callaghan mentioned rule of law. That is important. The issue of LGBT-free zones in Poland is absolutely horrific but it is not part of the rule of law discussions at the moment. Such discussions in respect of Poland centre on the issue of the judiciary. I will say to our Polish friends that when people look at what is going on with the judiciary and with LGBT-free zones in their country, it is, to say it most politely, a huge disappointment. Poland is a strong partner for Ireland. There is strong solidarity regarding Brexit and, through our economies, in respect of the benefits of the Single Market. When we see what is going on in Poland, it gives rise to a sense of disbelief. Poland needs to look carefully at what it is doing in respect of the judiciary and LGBT free-zones and how its image abroad will affect its economy because people will look twice when they see what is going on. I am concerned about this. I suggest that it is a matter for the Dáil and the Seanad and, indeed, the European affairs committee. I am more than happy to be involved but it will be a matter for the Dáil in a debate on the rule of law in Poland. When we discussed it at the General Affairs Council last week, member states were keen that people would interact with their own parliaments in respect of it. It is great that Deputy O'Callaghan and many other people are raising these issues. However, we need to have a full debate on them in the Oireachtas, possibly at some point in the new year.

In terms of Covid-19 engagement, people are telling me in the Chamber that we are much stricter than in other countries. The reality is, however, that even since last weekend, there have been many changes in European countries. I do not have any responsibility for health but I am kept apprised of what is happening in European countries or where there are a lot of green zones. The number of patients in ICUs in Sweden has doubled in a short time. Finland has seen a massive increase in the past few weeks. Latvia introduced new restrictions last week and Belgium introduced new measures yesterday. France re-entered a state of public health emergency on Saturday. A partial lockdown went into force in the Netherlands on Wednesday. Luxembourg is having a meeting of its Government Council this weekend. Germany is not quite as badly hit at the moment but new measures were taken last week. A new Covid-19 decree came into force yesterday in Italy. Portugal has raised its state of contingency to "higher state of calamity" status. In Spain, new measures came into effect in Catalonia from Friday.

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