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

The Government will respond to and recognise the extraordinary efforts that front-line healthcare workers have made. The Government will do that. The precise timeframe obviously has to be considered. We are not out of this pandemic yet. There are just over 1,000 people still in hospital. The numbers are still 25% higher than the April peak. There are 175 people in intensive care. The pressure is still on our hospitals, and we need to get that pressure down. That is why we need to adhere to the regulations. That is why we are in favour of prolonged suppression of the virus to get the numbers down to very low levels and to keep them there. That will inform our approach to the period post 5 March, when there will not be a significant reopening of many sectors of our economy. We will focus on a phased return of schools.

In respect of non-Covid health services, there has been significant utilisation of the private sector deal on this occasion, with up to 2,300 bed nights alone used, and 30% of ICU beds used for non-Covid urgent procedures.

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