Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Many people were looking forward to the lifting of level 5 restrictions, which takes place from today. We all hope it can be done safely. There has been a welcome reduction in Covid numbers but it is fair to say that they are not as low as many of us would have liked. Therefore, there is an even greater challenge in keeping the numbers as low as possible in the coming period. I have heard a great deal in recent days about personal responsibility and the need for people to be sensible in the precautions they take. I certainly echo that.

However, there is another side to this and it is the role of the State and State agencies. We have got to know a lot about the virus over the past year. We know it is airborne and that good ventilation plays a significant role in reducing risk. Now that the winter season is here and people are far more likely to spend time indoors, it is critically important that there is good advice and guidance, communicated by Government, in respect of ventilation. None of us wants to face a further lockdown in January. The public and business owners will heed good, practical advice but, as I said, the lead has to come from Government.

At the outset of the pandemic, the advice was: "test, test, test". Every evening we can see in the figures that when the number for Covid-19 incidence falls the number being tested also falls, so there is spare capacity. Is it intended to use that capacity and, if so, will the Taoiseach outline a strategy in terms of the numbers now involved in tracing? Is the full complement of tracers now in place? Are there new strategies relating to community transmission? There have been a number of large outbreaks in hospitals, such as in Letterkenny, Limerick and Naas. This has posed challenges for the operation of those hospitals. Indeed, many healthcare workers have become sick and have had to isolate. Routine swabbing in the nursing homes has helped to control the virus in that setting, but there is no similar routine system for staff in hospitals. Is that being considered? Are there other settings that could be considered in a preventative way?

How is it planned to manage international travel, particularly from countries where there is a high incidence of the virus? There is an EU-wide traffic light system, but each country is required to put its own system in place. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that the risks here will be addressed, given that there is likely to be a larger number travelling at Christmas than is currently the case?

We are told that a major factor in the Government making the choices it made was that there was compelling information and evidence on adverse mental health issues. Does the Taoiseach intend to make that information available? Like all Deputies, I hear from people who are in serious distress. We hear about people who are anxious and fearful. It is not just the result of isolation. People are worried about the virus itself and others are in distress because of the loss of jobs, uncertainty about the future and unpaid bills. For some there is a sense of frustration with the restrictions and not having anything to look forward to. Essentially, does the Taoiseach intend to use that information for other mental health strategies?

To recap, will the Taoiseach share the information? Is there spare capacity in testing? Will he also comment on good ventilation and international travel?

See this speech in context