Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When circumstances change, we need to change our approach. The information that we have gleaned in the past few months has to be factored into any ongoing policy decisions. What do we know now that we did not know two or three months ago? At that point, vaccines were on their way but we were still awaiting European Medicines Agency, EMA, approval. Now we know that there are a number of variants, namely UK, South African and Brazilian variants. Some are much more contagious and some seem to involve higher levels of mortality. There is uncertainty as to how the different vaccines will work on the new variants. Keeping those variants out is absolutely crucial.

People want this to be the final lockdown. Businesses want this to be the final lockdown. What we do this time must give us a sustainable future. Nobody wants us to fall at the final hurdle. Members of the public know that no system is perfect and that one cannot always cover all the bases but, as I said, they also know that the current vaccines may not perform as well against the new variants as they did against the original virus. Therefore, we now know it has never been more important than it is now not to import any new variants of this virus. It is far too late for the UK variant, which has become dominant, but we still have significant control over other variants. That is why it is essential, crucial, pivotal - use any word one likes or use them all - to stop those variants from entering Ireland.

We have new measures on the Border and I support them. Travelling from Derry to Donegal is the same as travelling from Donegal to Derry or Donegal to Sligo. There should be no unnecessary journeys. However, it is like having a field with two gates. One of the gates is closed but the other is open. That other gate refers to our ports and airports and the only way to close that second gate is to introduce mandatory quarantining of those arriving in Ireland. That means demanding a negative PCR test before anybody arrives and mandatory quarantining with a second test five to seven days later. I believe we will have mandatory quarantining a few weeks' time anyway, but will it be too late? I ask the Minister to bring the required legislation before this House as soon as possible and move heaven and earth, if it takes it, to keep those new variants out.

Finally, I will briefly address another issue related to Covid, and that is the need to give an ex gratiapayment to healthcare staff. I am not jumping on any bandwagon or simply repeating the words of the INMO.

I tabled a question to the Minister almost a month ago asking him whether he would consider a non-taxable flat-rate payment to healthcare workers just like everyone else, that is, an ex gratiapayment. His response was not positive, but I am asking him to reconsider. Those workers deserve it.

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