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

-----through vaccination certificates, and to restrict it to those who are vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid The second phase is to do an assessment of the potential use of PCR testing and the third phase is to look at antigen testing. The legislation provides a framework to enable that to happen.

One way or the other, we must get off the fence in this regard. Last week, people were urging us to bring forward proposals. We are now bringing forward proposals. We indicated last week that we would have a plan by 19 July. It is fairly straightforward, simple legislation. I accept that we would not ordinarily engage in such measures, but we are in the middle of a global pandemic.

So far, we have safely reopened a lot of society and the economy. We want to consolidate the progress we have made in bringing so many jobs back into the economy and keeping the pressure on the virus. We want to commence the next phase, which is challenging because of the Delta variant. I do not underestimate the risks. I do not underestimate Delta. That is why the public health authorities and NPHET were very clear in their advice that indoor dining would be restricted to the vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid.

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