Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion. The legislation to allow indoor hospitality to resume is indiscriminate in nature and unenforceable. It discriminates in particular against young people aged between 18 and 35 who have not received the vaccine. It discriminates against those who do not wish to receive the vaccine, as is their right. Some people are concerned about reactions they had to vaccines in the past. They may have had a near-death experience, do not wish to go through that again and do not wish to get a vaccine. There are others who are concerned about the vaccines having been rushed through.

Whatever the reason, whether someone cannot or does not want to get a vaccine, he or she should not be discriminated against in respect of businesses in this country. The uptake of vaccines has been very high, and that is welcome, but not everybody has had an opportunity to receive one yet.

The restrictions relating to hotels make no sense. Recently I went to a hotel, stayed two nights and ate in the hotel my breakfast and evening meals. I was not asked once whether I was vaccinated or whether I had got Covid. I was served by young waiters who, I presume by their age, probably were not vaccinated. They served my table and other tables. What is the difference between having a meal in a hotel and having a meal in a restaurant? I do not understand and people do not understand why a distinction has been made in that regard. Also, if I drive 20 miles from my home, I can go to a restaurant or pub and have an indoor meal or drink in Fermanagh and, again, I will not be asked whether I have been vaccinated. I am not sure this is enforceable. Who is supposed to enforce this? Is it the staff in the restaurants and the bars? I do not know that the Garda has been consulted about enforcement either.

I have been contacted by many parents who were concerned that the sacraments of holy communion and confirmation were cancelled with only a few days' notice. That is totally unfair. It is unfair to the young people who have made the preparation and were looking forward to receiving their sacraments. It is unfair to the parents who forked out good money on outfits that possibly will not fit their children in six months' time or whenever sacraments are allowed to proceed. I think the reason we were given for the cancellation of the sacraments was the parties afterwards, but many of the parents told me they were planning on having a meal with only their family, maybe including grandparents. They were being very careful and very cognisant of the Delta variant and not spreading it to other family members and were not going for large parties. I have heard of others who went ahead and had the parties anyway without the sacraments. The restrictions made little sense in that regard.

Another thing confusing people is attendance at sporting events. We saw on the television last week large attendances in stadiums at Euro 2020 matches and in Wimbledon at the tennis matches. I was surprised to see that, and I am not proposing we go anywhere near those kinds of crowd numbers, but I am sure increases could be made to the number of those who may attend outdoor matches in large stadiums here in Ireland.

My main points are that there is a lack of clarity; that people are confused about the differences between, for example, hotels and restaurants, and about antigen testing and why it is acceptable in some instances and not in others; that there is a lack of planning around all this; and that everything seems to be a reaction to whatever is happening. It is not that the medical advice should not be taken on board, but decisions need to be rounded and need to take in the economic circumstances as well.

See this speech in context