Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In October the mandatory hotel quarantine system was no longer considered necessary and was wound down and mandatory home quarantine requirements were removed. Now, we need them again. Omicron is among us and we have to do what we can to protect the whole of society. When the power to make regulations was introduced it was not expected that the Covid-19 pandemic would last for so long, restrictions would be so intrusive or things would change and we would have to react.

Our recovery and fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging because of the Delta and Omicron variants. I do not underestimate their risks. The unknown is what is difficult for all of us. This Bill makes an exceptional provision in the public interest to protect us against the grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of the disease known as Covid-19 and its variants. I am conscious that we initially introduced such a measure on a temporary basis, but we removed it when we were able to. We now need to reintroduce it. We do so to protect lives, and I am fully supportive of that.

The rate of Covid-19 in children aged between five and 12 has risen by 240% in November alone, which is worrying. These are small children and public health measures and the usual mask wearing, advertising and social distancing will help. I know we need such measures to protect us all. We need to protect our children in the same way as we protect older and vaccinated people.

The booster roll-out is absolutely brilliant. In my area, Carlow-Kilkenny, there will be walk-in booster clinics from the end of next week. Some 93% of adults have been vaccinated. That is really important and shows the Government's commitment to protecting people.

I have received a lot of calls about mask wearing and the fact we have said it is not mandatory for children aged nine and upwards, yet schools are being told they can send home children without masks who do not have a medical certificate. We need clarification on that. I spoke to the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, yesterday. The advice on wearing masks comes from health professionals and NPHET, but I ask that there be more communication with schools and we ensure that there is no issue where a child has a medical need.

We should be able to come to a solution through the doctors and the schools. I would like to ask about proper ventilation and filtration systems. They will go a long way to keeping our schools open. I have been speaking to a lot of parents who have said to me that it is so important that we keep our schools open. I acknowledge that is a priority for the Minister and for the Minister, Deputy Foley.

None of us wants to be back here today introducing new restrictions. Unfortunately, we see that the daily case figures are over 4,000. All of us here in government have a duty of care to make sure that we protect lives. We all want to protect the lives of children and adults. We want to protect everyone. No one wants to be back here again. I welcome these provisions. It is unfortunate that we are here again. We have to make sure that we protect everyone.

Returning to schools, we must reinstate contact tracing and other public health supports for our school communities. At the moment there are a lot of changes within the school system. I compliment the schools. They have done a marvellous job. The teachers, principals and parents have been outstanding. We have to try to keep everything as normal as possible. Keeping the schools open is definitely a priority for us. I ask that there be more communication with the schools and refer again to information, particularly when there is a medical issue.

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