Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting that we have now come to depend on leaks from the parliamentary parties to know the real thinking inside them. They are proud of it; boasting about it here in the Chamber. It is gas. We do not get it from officialdom. Fáilte Ireland is making up the guidelines. The guidelines that came out yesterday are that we cannot sing, dance or play taobh amuigh nó istigh d'óstán, nó aon áit eile. We cannot sing or dance. The Taoiseach said today we might be too loud when singing and might transmit the virus. It is such balderdash.

When Fáilte Ireland came before the arts and tourism committee, I asked two or three times why it came up with the daft €9 rule for food. Their representatives said they had no hand, act or part in it. I believe the Government is using Fáilte Ireland as a stalking horse. Fáilte Ireland has a serious job to do. Ireland is the eighth highest destination for American tourists. That is what Fáilte Ireland should be at now, aspiring to getting Americans over here to help the pilots that are outside, to help Shannon and to help lift our hospitality industry again. That is what it should be doing, not this tomfoolery with making up rules that have nothing to do with it. Fáilte Ireland has a job to do and it did a good job, in the main, always. However, now it is being sucked into debates such as the one about the €9 meal. If I get someone to play a tune I dance a reel, whenever I get the opportunity. I am proud to sing and so are many others. As I said this morning, we cannot sing "The Lonesome Boatman" or play uilleann pipe music, or sing silent laments about Biddy Early, God help us. It is just so illogical.

I will be honest and put my hands up. I looked for the borders to be sealed at every meeting I went to. The Minister attended many of them when he was in opposition. I will not be a hypocrite and say I was not looking for that. We have hotel quarantine, but it is difficult and damaging. However, I did not want hotel quarantine, I wanted the border sealed. Hungary and Poland did it. I was told at every meeting by then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, that it could not be done because we are Europeans. We are the best boys in Europe, but other countries could do it and we could not. We allowed people in and there was contamination, spread and everything else. We saw what went on in Lanzarote and different places. We have hotel quarantine now but I have questions to ask about the cost of it and the no-tender process. Since this pandemic began, the HSE has got a blank cheque.

People phoned me to find out where the locations were when they were asked by the HSE to go and do work there. The cost did not matter, it was just a case of getting the work done. There was no tender process. We saw that with the old St. Michael's hospital in Clonmel, County Tipperary. Some €800,000 was allocated to make 40 beds and then a further €600,000 was allocated, with the number of beds dropping to 30 from 40. The waste is shocking. There will have to be an independent inquiry into all of this.

I will not be a hypocrite. I wanted restrictions in respect of our borders because ours is an island nation. What I was seeking should not have been difficult. Now, we have the quarantine system and it has been given to one big company - I have all the details of it here - with no tendering process. A total of 20 other groups made submissions. How was that company chosen? Why will the Government not accept antigen testing? Every other place in Europe and the European Commission said it should be used but the Government will not accept it. Is there a vested interest in PCR tests? Will the Minister answer that question? There must be an answer. It is very strange that the Government resolutely refuses to use antigen tests.

We want Shannon Airport supported. Let Fáilte Ireland get the tourists back in and stop making up silly rules. Irish people will not behave because they love to sing, dance, play and recite. That is our culture and our heritage.

See this speech in context