Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find it very difficult to comprehend what has just been said given all that has happened in the country. I know that in earlier stages of the debate Deputies Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae, Mary Lou McDonald and others called for the pubs to be opened, saying they should have been opened a long time ago. Have you learned anything from what has transpired? Human behaviour in all settings affects the spread of the virus. We do not blame publicans at all per se. In some cases, there were people who in certain settings breached the regulations and the rules. People in this House know that. Across the country, guidelines were not adhered to and rules were not adhered to in many settings, not just in public houses and hospitality but in many settings. We did not open wet pubs prior to the Christmas period because the evidence was there that it would be a contributing factor to the spread of the virus. The virus spreads through the congregation of people in many different settings. Yes, travel has to be dealt with also.

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