Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is absolutely fine. I understand the motion and the Bill being too close together, ostensibly on the same issue. I thank the Minister for bringing this matter before us, which is an opportunity for every Member of the House to have their say on the quite extraordinary measures introduced in the last Dáil and renewed in this one. These are necessary steps at an extraordinary time and not taken lightly as many Members have said over the course of the debate.

The extraordinary powers afforded to the Department of Health, An Garda Síochána and many others were introduced at a critical time and were a critical intervention for absolutely the right reasons. They have been renewed by this House already and this final renewal, as was put on the record of the House, relating to the expiry of these measures in November is appropriate. It should be said to anyone listening that these measures will only be used if needed, as opposed to going back to the scenario quite rightly mentioned by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, in which people were not allowed travel too far from their homes, were asked to stay at home and businesses were shuttered and schools closed. I cannot imagine that scenario arising again in relation to Covid-19 but they were and remain prudent steps.

I respect the right of many Members to have opposing views on this issue but the pandemic is not over. Masks work and they are included in these provisions. Many other provisions are included, which are necessary. For us to go back, unpick the legislation and start over would take unnecessary time. It is a prudent step for us to do this. If the Members opposite wish to come back to the Minister about certain provisions, perhaps they can be considered at a later stage, but not today. That is why I support this measure.

Given the speed at which this debate has processed through the speakers' list, I will speak for a moment about aviation. As I mentioned to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on Tuesday, given the decisions that the Minister for Health will take tomorrow, it is a critical sector to our economy. There are literally thousands of jobs potentially at risk because it is not just pilots, cabin crew or ground crew that are at risk, but the businesses associated with the sector and with aircraft landing and taking off in Dublin, Cork and Shannon. This is not to mention the huge impact a lack of connectivity will have in certain areas, particularly in the regions, like Shannon, if airlines withdraw aircraft on the basis of a lack of demand because of a lack of certainty. That is what the airlines require.

The Minister is aware of that and a commitment was given to bring forward the plan for aviation to the month of May. That is being done tomorrow, which I welcome. I ask the Minister, along with all the other measures that have been mentioned at his and my parliamentary parties, which I am sure he read about, in respect of what are our priorities to bear that in mind for tomorrow night.

See this speech in context