Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has been very clear in its determination to ensure that when services reopen, they stay open. In line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead, we have been able, as planned, to facilitate the reopening of many lower risk activities, including increasing the numbers permitted at outdoor gatherings and removing the limit on the number of people who can visit each other once they are fully protected by vaccination or immunity. Significant and sustained progress in our reopening of society and our economy has been made in recent months thanks to the efforts of individuals and communities across the country. We do not want to be forced backwards at this critical junction.

Unfortunately, as we have heard, the increase in cases of the more transmissible Delta variant now poses a significant and immediate threat to the progress which has been made. Experience elsewhere demonstrates the very real danger the Delta variant poses. For example, Scotland has seen a significant rise in hospitalisations. The European Centre for Disease Control, ECDC, has warned that a relaxation of measures over the summer months could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups with an associated increase in hospitalisations and deaths. Recent estimates from the ECDC suggest the Delta variant is estimated to be 55% more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which rapidly became dominant in Ireland at the start of the year.

We are seeing more and more cases of Delta in Ireland. As of 9 July 2021, it was estimated more than 82% of cases in Ireland are thought to be the Delta variant making it the predominant variant. As case numbers will increase due to the increased transmissibility of Delta, a review of current public health measures is being undertaken to ensure the public health response remains fit for purpose and responsive to the current epidemiological situation.

We are constantly strengthening our public health response to this pandemic, including through our testing and contact tracing system, travel policy measures and the roll-out of the national vaccination programme.

The testing and tracing programme is fundamental to identifying the source and containing the spread of the virus. Demand for testing is currently high. From 30 June to 6 July, there were a total of more than 92,000 community referrals for tests. This represents an increase of more than 23% on the previous week. We are maintaining a robust testing and tracing system that is capable of meeting surges in demand. Currently there is standing capacity in the system to carry out 175,000 tests per week and to complete full contact tracing for 1,500 detected cases per day.

Rapid testing also has a role to play as another valuable tool in Ireland's battle against Covid-19. Rapid testing is complementary to our PCR testing programme but will not replace it. Validated antigen testing is already being used in appropriate settings and contexts in the health and agriculture sectors and a number of pilots are under way, including in the education sector. Given the challenges posed by the Delta variant and the likely very significant demands on PCR testing capacity, it is intended that validated antigen testing will be deployed further in the weeks ahead in support of PCR testing.

International travel is also opening up. To support the safer reopening of travel, the regulations supporting the EU digital Covid certificate have come into effect and certificates based on vaccination are currently being issued via email and post across the country. It is intended that new travel measures will be introduced from 19 July, subject to the prevailing public health situation. As these measures are rolled out, we are continuing to strengthen our travel policies in other areas. Mandatory hotel quarantine for passengers arriving from designated states will continue to be an important safeguard. The Covid-19 passenger locator is another important measure. From 12 July 2021 passengers travelling to Ireland from overseas are required to present evidence of a completed Covid-19 passenger locator form as a pre-boarding requirement, which is to be checked by travel carriers.

The successful vaccine roll-out has continued at pace even with the added challenge of the recent cyberattack on the HSE. There are now 43 vaccination centre sites operating nationally. Last week saw pharmacies begin to administer vaccines to those aged 18 to 34. To date 34,500 doses have been delivered in pharmacy settings to both younger adults and the over-50s and the HSE anticipates a further 85,000 doses will be administered to younger age groups in the next two weeks. The HSE online portal for those aged 30 to 34 opened on Wednesday, 7 July, and vaccination appointments for those in this age group aged 30 to 34 have commenced this week.

The success of the vaccination programme has been built on the very high levels of take-up of the vaccine by Irish citizens, of which we should all be proud. I take this opportunity to thank all the healthcare workers and volunteers who are working tirelessly to make our national vaccination programme such a success. The programme is a source of national pride. I got my second AstraZeneca vaccination in Sligo on Monday. I thank the front-line workers and the volunteers for their courtesy and determination to vaccinate as many people as possible.

To ensure the continued success of our vaccination programme we must continue to exercise caution. We know that social mixing in indoor environments still represents a very high risk to unvaccinated populations. That is why the Government is working tirelessly with the hospitality sector to operationalise the safer reopening of indoor restaurants and bars.

Ireland’s plans to use proof of vaccination or recovery to enable the reopening of indoor activities are in line with the approach in a range of countries which have restricted access to a variety of settings to those with a Covid pass, including in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The plans put in place by the Government present the best path available to allow the reopening of indoor hospitality in a safe manner. The legislation being presented to the Dáil today will allow us to do this, as we continue the accelerated roll-out of our vaccine programme.

It has now been more than 500 days since the first case of Covid was reported in Ireland. The Government understands the difficulties caused by the continued necessary restrictions. However, we must not allow the Delta variant to undermine the progress we have made. Right now, our focus must be on maintaining our progress and continuing to protect the most vulnerable as our vaccination programme continues to deliver protection to the population. As we approach our 5 millionth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, we have great hope for our future.

I thank the contributors to the debate. I thank Deputies Cairns, Paul Murphy, Canney, Tóibín, Connolly, Fitzmaurice and Bacik who have contributed since I arrived at 11 o'clock. I welcome Deputy Bacik to the Dáil. I was in the Seanad with the Senator. She was articulate, passionate, very principled, respected and well liked. We are very fortunate to have her in this Chamber. As she said, we need to balance risk and she has asked the Government to give clear messages and provide a clear way forward.

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