Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is now the end of October. We are more than seven months into this pandemic and experiencing the expected second wave. In March, we felt we were all in this together and communities pulled together. Then the great coalition was formed and things started to fall apart. The scandals, the Fianna Fáil-ness of one's behaviour, golf-gate, Mr. Phil Hogan’s whistle-stop tour around Ireland instead of quarantining, the rotating agriculture Ministers, not to mind rotating taoisigh, grated on the public’s patience and nerves, and rightly so. In fairness, it is easy to close everything, but it is hard to reopen everything. The Minister took office at the point when everything was starting to reopen. Recently, however, he has been blaming the public for the resurgence of Covid and, while people definitely must take personal responsibility, he must take responsibility too. With the mixed messages, the bad communications and the consistent undermining of each other by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Government's behaviour has shown the public that we are certainly not all in this together.

This Bill provides for the enforcement of regulations under section 31A of the Health Act 1947. It relates to ministerial power and the option to make regulations under section 31A. It will also extend the previous sunset clause from 9 November 2020 to June 2021. It will mean fines for those contravening public health measures and will provide additional Garda powers that are supposedly needed. As my colleagues have outlined, there is some doubt about that. I have submitted an amendment for Committee and Report Stages and will speak to my reasons for that amendment at that time. However, I still do not believe this Bill is necessary.

What data are being collected on the locations being policed? What is the socio-economic status of those being stopped and questioned by gardaí? The public has been rightly sceptical about the Government’s focus on house parties and personal responsibility, while ignoring the grave problems in meat processing plants and direct provision centres. It is a Trump-like tactic to deflect stories when they arise. It is also noted that certain legislation can be rushed through the Houses, but not when it relates to workers’ rights such as a statutory entitlement to sick pay. I believe that would do a great deal more to stop the spread of Covid than any of the regulations being introduced now. People are being told to work from home, but what if they cannot? Many people in our cities and urban centres are living in substandard, overcrowded accommodation. How will the Garda differentiate between house parties and a large number of tenants merely sharing a house because of unaffordable rents and discrimination in the rental market?

Mr. Liam Herrick, the executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, said that it "highlighted many areas where this legislation needed to be improved from a human rights perspective” back in March. He stated:

... those improvements weren’t made, that debate hasn’t happened, and there has been no review of the law to ensure it is fit for purpose. All of these things must happen before the legislation is renewed.

For that reason, I will vote against the Bill. The Garda has sufficient powers and can already achieve what we want it to do.

See this speech in context