Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It has been stated here on several occasions, not just by us but by many others, that when the public houses were closed down there was a concerted effort by the Government to blame the public houses for the spread of the pandemic. That was proven to be grossly untrue because of the facts. The pandemic grew out of control when all of the public houses were closed. At the same time, the spin from the Government was to victimise, demonise and put down our public houses because of some reason best known to the Taoiseach and the Government. I would like the Taoiseach to answer this charge if he could, please. I want to know what set had the Government not just against rural publicans but urban publicans also?

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