Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I was coming into this place this morning and listening to the radio news. The invitation was being put out for 43-year-olds to contact the HSE about arranging vaccination. The next item was about hospitality. It struck me that a majority - probably a vast majority - of people going back to work in hospitality are under the age of 43 and will go back to work unvaccinated. This is at a time the virus is in the community, there is a new variant, which is significantly more infectious, and they are operating on the basis of a lesser social distancing rule now. I do not say workers should not go back or anything like that. It is an important step but health and safety is paramount. The Minister of State talked about the Fáilte Ireland guidelines. Who will police the guidelines? Who will be on the job to ensure health and safety for our hospitality workers?

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