Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry. I was expecting a Government representative to be called in light of the insistence of a change in the order a few months ago.

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this issue. I want to say at the outset that I do not for a moment underestimate the challenges involved in taking the kind of decisions that are required over the coming weeks. There is no doubt that there is a lot of pressure on, some of which I believe is coming internally from Government parties, and a lot of expectation. Clearly, the question of public health and safety must be paramount in this. I recognise the fact that it is very difficult to strike that balance to ensure that businesses have a fair opportunity to trade and that we are very mindful of the challenges ahead in terms of an upsurge in the virus. Undoubtedly, it is difficult to strike that balance between allowing some level of celebration and business to take place during December while also being mindful of the fact that the more we celebrate, the more chances there are that some time in the new year we will have to go into a third lockdown.

I am disappointed that no attempt has been made to involve Opposition parties. The right way of going about this would have been to take an all-party approach. I have said to the Taoiseach over many months that it is regrettable he did not take that on board. That would involve sharing the data with other parties and sharing the decision-making also. All of us were up for that. In fairness, across the board Opposition parties have been very responsible and reasonable. On those few occasions when there were briefings we asked to be included in the decision-making. There would have been very definite benefits in including, on a cross-party basis, all parties in respect of the public health messaging. That would have been powerful but I believe that has been a missed opportunity. It would have been all the better if we could have had a united approach. Many of us have been asking for that.

It is critical that the decisions that will be taken over the coming days are based on the data and on a proper risk assessment. If the Minister wants to bring people with him he has to explain the reason some businesses can open, others can open in limited ways or some not at all. It is very important that the science and the risk assessment is provided on the reason those decisions are being taken. That is how the Minister will keep people with him. Obviously, that rationale has to be shared across the board.

There needs to be certainty for business as soon as possible because a lead-in is required for restaurants in particular. If there is to be an opening for pubs that serve food and so on and for retail in general they need that certainty and, in the case of restaurants, they need a two-week lead-in period. I hope those decisions can be announced before the weekend.

With regard to retail, I am assuming that non-essential retail will be allowed open up fairly soon. In that case it is very important that the Government ensures there are extended opening hours for retail, not only for their own sakes but from the point of view of reducing pressure and congregation and that the footfall can be smoothed out somewhat.

The footfall could be smoothed out somewhat so that we do not have a rush for the undoubtedly pent-up demand. We can spread that demand out over busy peak periods in order to reduce the danger of congregating.

I ask the Government to make an extra effort to make the messaging clear to people. We need to keep repeating the original, basic messages. That is essential. The Government needs to do two things. First, it needs to be clear about the role of ventilation. The Government and NPHET have recognised that ventilation plays a significant role in reducing the spread of the virus. At this time of year when it is cold outside, there is a tendency to close windows and doors to keep heat in. There is a definite tendency over the Christmas period for people to spend long hours together at home in enclosed areas. The Government has to concentrate on getting out the message of how important it is to have air circulation and ventilation to reduce the spread of the virus.

The second clear message the Government needs to get out to people relates to the dangers that could arise in this period, and for people to limit their contacts. We all want to be with family and extended family. If the Government gives clear messages to people about what they need to do to reduce the circles they mix in, that helps. Christmas is a time when there might be much pressure on extended family to visit, call, come for dinner and spend a long time doing so. Clear messaging would be helpful because, instinctively, the vast majority of people are quite nervous about what Christmas might bring, in the worst sense. We all want it to be as good as possible but there is a real danger involved. Clear messaging about that, about reducing the length of time involved in visits and about trying to meet family outdoors as much as possible will take a lot of pressure off extended families with regard to their relations and expectations.

I welcome what the Government has said about recruitment. Let us not have a strike by public health doctors after all they have done this year. Will the Government please sort out that issue and ensure that existing public health doctors are given the status they deserve, which is consultant status, like all of their colleagues?

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