Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Health (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2021: Second Stage

 

5:02 pm

Photo of Joan CollinsJoan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

After the debate today, the Minister should look seriously at this legislation and where he will bring it when we vote on it. Like me, I am sure virtually all Members have received a massive number of emails and social media messages, many from young people, urging a "No" vote on this hastily-drafted legislative measure. Young people quite rightly see these proposals as discrimination on the basis of age. They have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated and will not have the opportunity until the end of the summer, which is most likely the earliest time if the vaccine roll-out proceeds as planned. As the Minister always says, he has to qualify it by saying it will be when we get the vaccines in and we do not know that.

We have seen remarkable solidarity and compliance with health guidelines in our communities over the last 16 months, but this measure risks undermining that solidarity. That is a key issue in this debate. The European Data Protection Board and the European Data Protection Supervisor strictly warned against using the EU Covid-19 certificate for reasons other than free movement, that is, travel between EU member states, as it could have unintended consequences and risk the fundamental rights of citizens. They went on to say specifically that the digital green card should not be used as part of a legal basis as to whether somebody has been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19. That is the reality and the truth, yet this Bill is doing the opposite to what they said. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has expressed serious concerns about the discriminatory nature of the legislation.

If this law is passed, non-vaccinated young people will be serving drinks and food in establishments which they are barred from using themselves. Young workers in the hospitality sector must not be put under pressure to return to work in what they regard as an unsafe environment. These are very important people. They will not have any choice but to return to work. There will be pressure from the Department of Social Protection on them to fill out forms to explain why they are still on the pandemic unemployment payment, and in September it will be reduced by €50. I put it to the Minister that there must be no pressure to return to work or lose the PUP allowance in respect of the reopening of indoor dining.

Legislation of this nature, which poses possible risk to civil liberties, should be subject to strenuous scrutiny on all Stages. Instead, pre-legislative scrutiny in committee has been bypassed and the measure is being railroaded through the Dáil and Seanad. Ventilation and CO2 monitors are guidelines, not mandatory. Who is going to enforce who goes through the doors? It will be the workers, who are unvaccinated. We still do not know how the Delta virus is going to impact on hospitalisations and intensive care units. We have to watch closely what happens in England, the North and other countries in that regard. Undoubtedly, there will be an increase, and the question of reopening then has to be based on the debate in England on how many lives we accept losing to this virus.

Earlier, the Tánaiste said that this Bill is a middle and safe path. The virus does not recognise middle or safe paths. All it wants to do is pass through a human vector and continue to grow. I urge all Deputies to vote against this Bill and to show solidarity with our young people and that we take their views seriously.

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