Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The way the Government has introduced the legislation is flawed and as divisive as the legislation itself. It is unworkable and deeply unfair. The hospitality sector in particular has suffered badly during the pandemic and has borne the brunt of the restrictions like no other sector, except those involved in arts and entertainment. Thankfully, with huge public participation in the vaccination programme we are in a position where the hospitality sector can begin to reopen. Because of the importance of this moment we would think the legislation to allow for this would be given careful consideration and that all elected representatives from constituencies such as mine in Tipperary would be given the opportunity to properly scrutinise it and contribute to it in the interests of their constituents. Instead, the Government has played fast and loose with the future of the sector and society in general by publishing the legislation at the last minute and giving the Opposition only a few hours to read it and submit amendments. Why is this? It is to avoid proper scrutiny because the Bill is discriminatory and unworkable. It discriminates between the people of this country based on whether they have a vaccination. We cannot support a Bill that does this. We cannot support a Bill that leads the country down a road that is in absolute contradiction of the equality we practise and espouse. It also contradicts the Government's claims on protecting public health.

The Bill also works against the proper reopening of indoor dining. People are being asked to police a system that is open to argument. This is unfair on these establishments and will put managers and staff in a very difficult position. So far, the Government is unable to say how many compliance officers there will be and what exactly they will do. The inconsistency of the Government's approach is also evident in how hospitality staff who have not been offered a vaccine have no exemption to eat indoors where they work but there is an exemption for them to work there. This is a terrible way to treat workers.

The Government will not even treat Covid-19 as an occupational illness as we are again proposing. Neither has there been co-operation with the North on this. It is not clear how this will operate for residents of the Six Counties and non-EU tourists. What we are pointing out today through our amendments is that we need a plan that builds in all mitigating factors. This includes PCR and antigen testing, a revised vaccine roll-out, ventilation and air filtration solutions as well as social distancing and infection control measures. It is not beyond us to come up with a plan that includes everyone instead of excluding many.

Of course there is chaos surrounding the issuing of certificates and whether GPs will be asked to issue letters of recovery from Covid. This is proof of how the Government's treatment of the public and the Opposition when it comes to the overall plan is deeply cynical. My party colleagues and I want the hospitality sector opened as quickly and safely as possible for everyone. This is why we have submitted a number of sensible amendments, which I have outlined. Sinn Féin cannot support the Bill as the Government has presented it because it provides for a two-tier reopening that will fail the public, fall short of what the hospitality sector needs and will fail to uphold the element of equality that we hold dear.

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