Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am weary from talking about Covid. The people I represent are weary. We are all, I think, weary at this stage, nobody more, I suspect, than the Minister. Notwithstanding that, I am here, along with some of my colleagues, to oppose this Bill and to try to explain in brief why I am opposing it.

In March 2020, in the first substantive debate on the pandemic after the last general election, I recall sitting over there beside Deputy Connolly and we were both very concerned, as I think many people were, by the extraordinary powers that were being given over to the Government to make law and regulation without any degree of accountability or debate. However, we agreed to them because we were concerned about the news that was coming in and we were told they would be in place for a short period. During the first lockdown we were told we were locking down to flatten the curve for just a few short weeks. Covid was not eliminated but the curve was flattened. Slowly it started to spread again. Then we had another lockdown in October. That lockdown was in order that we could all save Christmas or have a meaningful Christmas. I always thought that was a dubious basis on which to lock down, but it was one that was dreamt up by members of NPHET, no less, so people generally went along with it. Then we locked down after Christmas and it was a very long lockdown. We were told the restrictions would be eased slowly in order that we would not have to go back. We were told we would lock down until enough people were vaccinated. We were told - not by the Minister, I accept, but by various experts in the media - that would be 80%. Then we were told that 80% of adults would not be enough and that we needed more people vaccinated so we needed to stay locked down a little longer to achieve that, and we did that. All the while the Minister wielded these extraordinary powers the Dáil had granted to him for a very short period. Those powers were extended, extended again and extended while we were told they would not be used, and now we are told they will be used. Now we are told the powers which are to expire - because we were told they would not need to be used - are being rolled over again. The Minister tells us they will be rolled over until 31 March and that some of the measures can be further rolled over again and again but others can be rolled over only once. Of course, however, another piece of legislation such as this can be introduced.

Until when are we locking down or imposing restrictions? When is the end point? I listened carefully to the debate.

Deputy Durkan said we need to see this out to the end. I respectfully ask what that means.

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