Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment. The sunset clause for this legislation should be in black and white. It should be set in stone that the legislation should not be extended beyond 9 October.

I genuinely believe this legislation is unworkable. It could have been workable if the provision for antigen testing was included from the start. We could be opening up restaurants and pubs later this week using antigen testing and giving people access on the exact same basis as someone who is fully vaccinated. Over the past 12 months the Government has not addressed the issue of antigen testing. It has referred continually to the health experts regarding it. The health experts have taken a particular interpretation based on the fact that the public would not understand a result received from an antigen test. The Government can take a decision tomorrow morning that the result of an antigen test should be sufficient, rather than waiting and plámásing the medical profession to come round to the view that the public are mature enough to understand what an antigen test means. I plead with the Minister to open up more of society but let us do it in a safe manner, which I agree with, and antigen testing can allow that to happen.

We have this bizarre situation that I referred to in my contribution on Second Stage where one must have a vaccination certificate to access indoor dining, yet one can go to a cinema and one does not need it. The Chief Medical Officer tells us now that children under 18 years of age should not go into restaurants but we can have children going into cinemas in the exact same atmosphere. There is a contradiction regarding the advice that is being given. The fundamental issue is that vaccination status should never define someone's access to pubs, restaurants or wider society. We cannot have a situation where this particular law extends beyond 9 October. I for one would actively encourage every single citizen in this State to take the vaccine if he or she gets the opportunity and where it is safe to do so when it is made available to him or her. There is coercion in the legislation and I cannot accept that. I urge the Minister to look at antigen testing as an alternative avenue and to implement it in tandem with the provisions that are made in the Bill.

When responding, could the Minister provide some clarity on the certificate for someone who has recovered from Covid-19? The public commentary to date is that for six months after a person has recovered, he or she can go into a pub or restaurant and certification will be provided for that. Who is going to provide the certification? I do not know. There is confusion regarding it, but that is a direct contradiction of what is on the HSE's website, which clearly states that someone is immune and protected for nine months after infection. If that is the case, he or she should be able to go into a pub or restaurant but we are saying they will only be allowed in for six months. Why the contradiction in regard to that when it is public health advice and when this is what the medical experts are saying to us?

The final point I will make to the Minister is that the public health advice is that a PCR test allows someone to travel and to come into this jurisdiction but does not allow someone to go into a pub or restaurant. Again, there is a direct contradiction here with the public health advice. We could get on an aeroplane with a couple of hundred people in a very confined space where there is a potential risk of spreading the virus. A PCR test will allow people to do that but it will not allow them to get off the aeroplane and go into a pub or restaurant with the exact same results. These contradictions are adding to the absolute confusion. This legislation is completely unworkable. Premises will open and will find that they cannot remain open because they cannot enforce the legislation and will be forced to close. That is in no one's interest. We want to see society open and remain open. At a very minimum, I urge the Minister to accept the amendment and set in stone 9 October as the final date for this legislation.

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