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

The Taoiseach's response does not inspire confidence. There is a lot of nervousness about the real dangers of the importation of the virus, but the Taoiseach has not provided any reassurance at all. We are into December now and we are likely to have a big increase in travel over Christmas and the new year. What the Taoiseach is saying is that at this point the Government is looking at whether there is a need for a legal underpinning of the regulations. That is really late in the day. It is not sufficient for the Taoiseach to say that we have tried in regard to the North.

There must be a system whereby there is co-ordination of at least the passenger locator form North and South. Otherwise, we are very exposed as there is a major loophole, with as many people as so wish being able to come through the airports in the Republic of Ireland, with no checks on where they have been and where they are going.

Mr. Robin Swann MLA has been pleading with our Minister for Health to take action and achieve co-ordination in the area. The response has been for the members of the Government to throw their hands in the air, shrug their shoulders and say it is very difficult or challenging. It is not good enough and we need action from the Government to limit the inherent dangers in the next month arising from travel.

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