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

Again, the Delta variant has been described as a cloud on the horizon for quite some time. We got advice from which we formulated the original opening in July and at that stage we were told we were in a low- to medium-risk scenario. The Delta variant had not quite penetrated here at that point but everybody knew in the days leading up to last weekend that there were issues arising in the context of reopening. The clarion calls all weekend were that we should bring forward the meetings in order to get an early decision and not to have the hospitality industry waiting until Thursday or Friday for that decision by the Government. We brought forward those meetings. The results of modelling we received from NPHET and the group led by Professor Philip Nolan on Monday certainly makes the decision to pause the reopening of the hospitality industry the correct one. I ask the Deputy if she agrees that on the basis of that modelling alone, a decision had to be taken to pause and delay the reopening the hospitality sector.

The further advice given in respect of vaccination is going to give rise to challenges. As the Deputy knows, the Government's original position in late May was that vaccinations would be a factor in permitting access to domestic access to facilities and services. We now have a significant challenge with respect to indoor hospitality. What NPHET is saying, very clearly, is that indoor activity poses the greatest risk, particularly indoor hospitality. We know that from previous waves of the pandemic. The challenge now as we engage with the hospitality sector is to see if we can work our way through this in order to facilitate the reopening of hospitality. The threshold being set by NPHET is very high and it will be very challenging in itself when it comes to non-reproducible and enforceable elements. We are committed to examine this matter further and to engage with the industry on it.

The NPHET letter and the modelling have been published. The significant shock was in respect of the modelling, with NPHET indicating the very high numbers that could arise as a result of the spread of the variant. On the plus side, it is clear that the faster we can get people vaccinated, the more effective that weapon will be against the Delta variant and the effects of the pandemic. This matter will be under review by NPHET as the weeks go by. In particular, NPHET will follow what is happening in the United Kingdom.

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