Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It would be useful if what was agreed at the meeting on Saturday was carried out. It was agreed that Dr. Holohan would take part in an interview on local radio yesterday to discuss the situation. That did not happen. It was agreed that walk-in centres would be announced yesterday. They were announced after the Garda announced its confidential telephone line through which people could inform the Garda where incidents and breaches of Covid-19 restrictions are taking place. As far as I am aware, Donegal is the only place in Ireland where that is happening. That has been the response of officialdom to the high incidence of Covid-19 infection in Donegal. It is a serious situation and this high incidence of infection needs to be tackled. There is no doubt about that. However, it needs to tackled in a holistic way and not in a way that isolates people or puts them on the back foot, which is what the response thus far is doing. This matter needs to be tackled properly.

The Taoiseach is probably correct that local representatives called for the meeting on Saturday because it appeared to be a PR stunt. That resulted in a dedicated response, but when representatives commit to doing something, they should do it. It is vital that happens.

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