Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions, the first of which I asked the last time. How are the thresholds for decision-making changing in respect of restrictions that are imposed as the vaccine rolls out? We now have 13% of the population vaccinated, which means that two thirds of the risk of fatality is now removed, even in those over 80 and we are proceeding rapidly through the cohorts. However, I hear the same targets around the 14-day incidence rate, the R number and so on. I do not see any change in the thresholds. We need to have a more honest discussion about that and if we recognise that there are lower risks, when will we be able to have conversations with different sectors about how they can make small changes to make their sectors safer? We must engage people in a way that will get them on board with the challenge that faces the Government.

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