Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have a few questions on the reopening of the country, which begins today. To show the public that we are not always fighting in here, I acknowledge that the Government took on board a suggestion from me last week regarding health workers who were in contact with me about covering the Christmas period. It was that those without children or with grown-up children would cover the Christmas period for people with young children and that they would have the New Year period off. The Government did listen to me and moved the date out by a few days to 6 January to allow such workers to visit loved ones and family members outside their county. I appreciate that.

I wish to raise dance classes for young people in particular. Individual or small group dance classes could have been dealt with more favourably because it is such an issue around the country. Many people do not just do sport. As we all know, young people have gone through a horrendous time. It is the younger group and the older group in society who have suffered the most around Covid. There are so many young people around the country who go to dance classes. I urge that we would consider allowing children to do even one-on-one individual classes in big halls. We need to do anything we can to give them a chance.

The Taoiseach might also just explain to publicans – I hate the term "wet pubs" – why the limit of 15 persons outside is gone.

Regarding what happens from 6 January on, is it the Government's plan to assess that a week in advance or how long in advance will it be? People will need enough guidance. Is it the Government's plan to proceed from here with having restrictions on county travel and on household visits again? I hope we can stick with what we have otherwise.

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