Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete the words ‘9th day of June, 2021’ and to substitute the words ‘9th day of February, 2021’ therefor.

We supported the original sunset clause for Part 5 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. I am not against extending the sunset clause in this case in light of the rise of Covid-19. My concern, which the amendment attempts to address, is that the Department recommends the extension of the sunset clause beyond 9 November. Sunset clauses are exactly that; they are time-bound measures to prevent any unintended consequences of extending legislation indefinitely.

A new date must be agreed. Our amendment recommends extending the sunset clause to 9 June 2021. We can come back to the Oireachtas and debate that further. If it needs to be extended again, so be it. As parliamentarians, we have to come here to have a proper debate on the reasons for this legislation. I know that Covid-19 has changed the agenda throughout the country, but we cannot allow legislation to be changed indefinitely. Another date must be named. We cannot support the indefinite extension of the legislation. I hope the Minister of State takes this on board.

I will raise a couple of other points while I have the opportunity. We are in extremely difficult times and the landscape has changed due to Covid-19. People have faced increased fear, anxiety and pressure on their mental health. During the mental health debate last week, I raised the implementation of support bubbles for those in danger of isolation. Isolation affects people living alone such as older people, single parents and parents of children with disabilities. I am pleased that the recommendation has been taken on board. This was a sensible decision. However, another decision was made that will have a direct impact on people's mental and physical health. When restrictions were introduced in April, people's mental health was one of the first things to be impacted. We heard from numerous experts and mental health service providers about how people's well-being was adversely affected. Gyms were closed, but people were able to exercise outdoors in the fine weather.

The fine weather is gone and the dark nights are back. When restrictions were eased, gyms could open so long as they put in place stringent public health measures. Gym owners have put regimented structures in place not only to make their businesses safe, but to implement contact tracing measures also. Gym users have been compliant with those measures. As the Minister of State is aware, physical health and mental health go hand in hand. I have been contacted by several constituents who are very concerned about their mental health coming into the dark nights. Routine and exercise are extremely important at the moment.

Unfortunately, Sinn Féin has not been included in the discussions and decision-making on the restrictions and has not received any briefings from NPHET or the Chief Medical Officer. Transparency is very important in the context of people's understanding of the restrictions and compliance with them. The Government needs to have transparency in order to bring people with it. People deserve the truth. I have asked the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, to outline the rationale and evidence for closing gyms based on his discussions with NPHET and the Chief Medical Officer. I put the same question to the Minister of State. I know she cannot answer now but I would appreciate a response at a later stage. What discussions, if any, did the Minister have with mental health experts in respect of the decision to close gyms? Was consideration given to allowing gyms to open either outdoors or indoors under more restrictive measures?

As I stated, the Government made a sensible decision regarding the support bubble. As much as I would like to think did so because I raised the issue directly in the House, it did not make the decision on that basis alone. Rather, the decision was made because the Government went back, did its research and due diligence and made a sensible decision based on the evidence provided. All I am asking for on behalf of gym users is that the Minister start the process and use the same due diligence process to examine why gyms have been closed and not permitted to reopen.

The motion proposes an extension to the sunset clause. A sunset clause is exactly what it sounds like. It is time bound and there for a reason. If it is necessary to extend it again, the House should come back in and debate that. Unless the motion contains a sunset clause and a date relating to it, Sinn Féin cannot support it going forward.

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