Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree that the Government has responsibility. It is in power, and therefore it has the information and all the resources of government to be able to do what needs to be done. Our difficulty from time to time has not been regarding measures, but the lack of a coherent plan and clear messaging. These aspects must be improved. We all accept that this is an incredibly difficult situation. Everyone here, particularly from an Opposition perspective, has spoken about how we do not get the briefings. We are not aware of all the ins and outs of the situation and all the information. Sometimes where we get our briefings from is RTÉ. I suppose that is no different now.

I see in a notification from RTÉ that the Taoiseach has said that when he spoke to the CMO, the CMO and his team were exceptionally clear about their worries and that has been accepted by the Government. We are talking about a form of restrictions between 7 December 2021 and 9 January 2022. Nightclubs are to be closed, there is to be strict social distancing in bars and restaurants, with table service only, a distance of 1 m between tables, no multiple bookings and 50% capacity at entertainment, cultural, community and sporting events. In addition, Covid passes will be required for gyms, leisure centres, hotel bars and restaurants. Household visits are also now reduced to those involving four households. There may be some variation regarding that last issue.

We accept that we are in a really dangerous situation. People are talking about the potential danger posed not only by the Delta variant that we have been dealing with already, but what we now face from Omicron as well. Whatever we do, though, we must ensure we make up for where the messaging has not been clear. I call for the Government to engage more with the Opposition. That must happen. I do not think that using this form of emergency powers almost two years into this process is the correct way to deal with this issue. When the Government has come up with sensible solutions, we have supported them, and that is what we must have now.

Difficulty arises sometimes when NPHET guidelines are issued, but then no narrative or declarations follow from the Government. That adds to the possibilities. Everyone here has spoken about the messaging to schools. At best, it was fast and imperfect. I engaged with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and she spoke about flexibility and common sense. I hope that will occur in schools. The messaging in this regard, however, must be improved.

We know the situation we are dealing with. We must deal with the issue on an international basis in respect of a waiver of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, known as the TRIPS Agreement, and thereby ensure the maximum output of vaccines across the world. We must also get our booster process, PCR testing and everything we can do in operation as fast as possible. We know our healthcare system is under stress and that there are weaknesses there. However, all the tools that we can bring to bear in this regard must be brought to bear. Therefore, I again ask the Minister for a greater level of engagement. I think he will be happy with the response that he will get. People out there and in here want to do the right thing. We must, however, sell what needs to be done to the public, and that requires good, decent and clear messaging.

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