Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy's fundamental assertions. I regret the fact that since this Government was formed, she has been so divisive in her approach to Covid-19. She has always sought to use it as an avenue to exploit for political gain. My more important point is this. Everyone in the House should take on board that the Delta variant is a serious and challenging issue, and will be across Europe. The advice from NPHET is to that effect. Whether we like it or not, the Delta variant is far more transmissible and creates risks. That is the essence of the advice that was presented to us by NPHET and of the modelling that was also presented to us, which was stark with respect to case numbers, hospitalisations, ICU occupancy and deaths for July, August and September. I ask that Deputy McDonald take that on board and accept it.

Is is Deputy McDonald's view that we should have pressed ahead with the opening of hospitality on 5 July given the warnings and projections we got about the impact of the Delta variant? I would like her to answer that question openly and honestly because this is a key point. The Government's decision yesterday was not to proceed. That is the fundamental decision we took. We decided to delay proceeding on 5 July and engage with the hospitality industry. Covid has been devastating for the hospitality industry. I know that. It has been devastating for travel and tourism since the very beginning, not just here but around the world. The impact of Covid has been devastating for many societies.

I spoke yesterday with Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, and she used a very telling phrase. She said Delta will rip through an unvaccinated population. Scotland has all its eggs in the vaccination basket, with 60% of the population fully vaccinated. There are some hopeful signs that there may be a breaking of the link between case numbers and hospitalisations but that is not certain yet and will take more monitoring.

The Deputy used the word "chaos" and the word "mess" gets mentioned. If one looks back over the last number of months, we have reopened society steadily, successfully and effectively, in terms of schools, childcare, sport for young people, construction, outdoor hospitality, personal services and retail. That is not chaotic. It has not been a mess. It has been steady, progressive and wise, and it has produced results. The decision yesterday is to protect all that. That is my only motivation and the only motivation of the Government is to protect that and protect people, not divide people and society. We want to protect society.

I understand how difficult Covid has been for young people. I know that. It has affected their college life and work. That is why the pandemic unemployment payment was brought in for students in the first instance. The threshold that has been set in respect of vaccination for hospitality is a very high one that will prove very challenging. We want to engage with industry because we understand how difficult it has been for the sector and for young people. The Government does not take decisions on the immunisation strategy. The NIAC decision will help us accelerate vaccination and that is a good thing.

See this speech in context