Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too support amendment No. 1. I again appeal to the Minister, but I know it will fall on deaf ears.

Guillotining a Bill of this nature is disgraceful. How can the Minister do that, given his pronouncements while in opposition and at leaders' meetings that Deputies Boyd Barrett and Naughten and others also attended and in light of his questioning of the advice, what was happening and the line from Dr. Holohan? To do such a U-turn beggars belief.

This legislation is unworkable. If it were banished at October, we would at least have some chance, but we are just playing semantics. When October comes, there will be another lockdown and we will be back in this scenario all over again. The people have grown Covid fatigued, media fatigued and Dr. Holohan fatigued. I saw a post this evening where he was again in the media telling people not to bring their children to indoor dining despite these rules. What is going on? There are three leaders in the Government and two are certainly vying for the top job, but is Dr. Holohan and NPHET vying for it as well and trying to scare people? Has he a death wish for hospitality? Is there a death wish on all of our people that we cannot be entertained or dine? Musicians have been confined to history. It is shocking. We are debating this rushed, inept, feeble, draconian and disastrous legislation, but Dr. Holohan is out on the airwaves saying other stuff.

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