Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Bill before the House is legislation that will place parameters on outdoor dining and drinking. It also outlines what constitutes an area for the provision of outdoor dining and drinking and what street furniture is permitted.

We do not oppose this Bill but I must mention the fiasco of the Government announcement yesterday that has caused so much anger and concern about the proposed resumption of indoor hospitality. The idea that indoor hospitality services will only open to those who have been vaccinated will create a two-tier society. As matters stand, a 20-year-old can eat and drink in an outdoor setting but cannot do so in an indoor setting. It is like a perverse Lanigan's Ball - she stepped out but she cannot step in again. The same 20-year-old can work in an indoor setting, serving food and drink, but God forbid she might want to socialise in the same indoor setting outside working hours. Our young people have been to the forefront in this pandemic and although I can give them a round of applause in this Chamber, I cannot buy them a round of drinks in their local pub. This is just bonkers. Members of the public have played their part in suppressing this virus but the Government must repay this hard work with common sense and pragmatic solutions. The facade of a mantra that we are all in this together has just gone out of the window over the past couple of days.

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