Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very important that we all remember that pandemics end. The Spanish flu ended, the black plague ended and the Covid-19 pandemic will end as well. The important thing for policymakers and politicians such as us is to ensure that we keep in place the fundamental structures in society while this very difficult period proceeds. The Minister's responsibility is to ensure that public transport continues as effectively as it can in light of the circumstances so that when the pandemic has passed, we will be able to avail of it again in great numbers.

One of the most depressing aspects of the pandemic has been seeing empty Dublin Bus vehicles, empty Luas carriages and empty taxis. Many people just do not have the work available to them to allow those services to fulfil the roles they play in public transport. One matter the Minister needs to consider is the possibility of giving free travel on our public transport system to healthcare workers. That is done in Northern Ireland to great effect. It would be a good indication of the support that we, as a society, wish to give to our front-line healthcare workers if we were able to afford them free travel on public transport as of now during the pandemic. Obviously, those who generally avail of free travel, namely, people over 65 years of age, simply are not using public transport to the usual extent.

The Minister has been questioned on the imposition of mandatory quarantine and he will have to give it close consideration. At present, we are living under extraordinarily draconian restrictions. Our children cannot go to school, engage in their pastimes or play sport. We are allowed out of our houses only to get food or to exercise. I can understand, therefore, why there is a concern that if variants are travelling around the world, we should use our best endeavours to ensure that we keep them out of Ireland. I do not think that is too much to ask, considering the great sacrifices we are all making. I look forward to seeing the legislation that will be produced, hopefully next week. It is important and the public expects its Government to work on it.

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