Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Every debate we have when restrictions come in or go out is the same. I recall a debate in the Dáil before the summer on the measure that enabled us to open hospitality, namely, the vaccination service. It was a heated debate with Members opposite saying it was the worst thing we could possibly do, yet it enabled the reopening of hospitality, including restaurants and pubs. Has anybody on the Opposition side said we got that wrong or have they said they were confused or that they gave an incoherent message? The Opposition always tries to pick holes although I acknowledge that there are difficulties and challenges, particularly for the sectors concerned.

Covid does not respect weekly decision-making on a precision basis. In our conversations with public health officials two weeks ago, this scenario was not on the horizon. The case numbers have taken a turn for the worse and we have to respond. It is as simple as that. We could have decided to pause everything and not open anything afresh. NPHET stated that it:

Did not believe it tenable that any pause now would result in a further easing of measures in November. The NPHET has therefore recommended that on balance:

... the remaining aspects of the hospitality, entertainment and night-time economy sector can reopen only with the full range of protective measures in place and the wide and robust implementation of the COVID-19 pass. In this regard, guidance should be developed or updated as appropriate by the relevant sectors.

NPHET goes on to list all the various measures and uses the phrase, "including the appropriate use of masks, physical distancing, ventilation, and mitigation measures". That is what is in NPHET's letter and it is now saying it does not see those measures being removed until February 2022. The measures must be implemented where appropriate and there has to be practical application of this in different settings.

Members will raise all the anomalies and ask why one thing can be done in one setting and another thing cannot be done in another setting. Those anomalies will arise in scenarios like this but the key point is that anything we have reopened so far has stayed open. Despite what some lobbies are saying, these restrictions have not inhibited a lot of activity because the Revenue and the VAT receipts are showing that a lot is going on in many sectors because of the reopening of society and the economy. It is better to try to proceed with reopening, albeit with restrictions that people will find frustrating.

It is because of the virus's turn for the worse that there is a timeline problem for the sector. I acknowledge that and the need for guidance and the need to engage with the sector and to do practical, sensible things to enable reopening and to enable the facilitation of plans that sectors that up to now had been closed have in place. We have got to work with sectors to do that. The same applies to the return to work. The Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which has employer representatives and union representatives, is meeting today to discuss that whole area in terms of the return to work on a safe basis.

See this speech in context