Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is an important message. There is genuine concern in Ireland right now. We are all aware of it. We are all talking to our constituents, families and friends and there is real concern. New measures have just been announced by an Taoiseach for the coming weeks. People are hearing about initial reports and are listening to initial reports and views on the Omicron variant, and they are, quite naturally, concerned. All of us have a role to play at the moment, at what is a very difficult time for people all over Ireland.

On the Omicron variant, we are going to have to wait a bit longer for the medical and scientific community to give us more definitive answers. They need more time. They are doing a lot of theoretical work on what the characteristics of the virus might mean in terms of the mutations and so forth. They are also looking at real world evidence around transmission patterns, the speed of transmission, levels of infection, levels of severity, the impact of the vaccines, reinfection and so forth. We are going to have to wait to get definitive answers on that. However, expert groups all over the world are signalling that we need to take this variant very seriously, and because of that we are acting in a precautionary way. We all hope for the best but we cannot just plan according to the best-case scenario. We have to take the expert advice very seriously.

The measures announced this evening follow clear public health advice. NPHET is concerned about two things. It is concerned about higher social interaction in December, which we all know happens, combined with the potential impact of this new variant. That is why it has advised the Government to take the measures that have been taken tonight. That is why the Government has decided to take those measures and has moved very quickly in doing so. I was handed the letter from the Chief Medical Officer while sitting here during our debate last night, and as I sit here now, the measures have already been announced. We are moving very quickly on this. We all appreciate that some of these measures are going to be very difficult for people to hear, particularly businesses that will be badly affected by them. This is going to land very badly with some people because it is going to have a tough impact on them, their plans and their staff. That is why it is very important that financial supports were included in the measures put forward.

It is also important that people know, even in the context of concerns about this new variant, that the national effort is working. It is important we remember that. The efforts individuals and families have made in recent weeks in response to public health advice are working and the huge efforts so many businesses are making to protect their staff and customers are working. The programmes of work the Government has put in place are also working. There is a lot going on on the Government's side. We are continuing with vaccines and boosters. There is a huge amount of PCR testing and antigen testing going on as well as a huge amount of testing and tracing. We have international measures in place, including the Covid pass. We are working hard to make sure we will have access to the antiviral drugs when they become available. There are very significant protections in place for nursing homes. There is the flu vaccine programme, the winter plan and much more. The combination of the efforts individuals and families are making, the efforts businesses are making and the efforts the Government, the HSE and various arms of the State are making is working.

Cases have stabilised. They are too high but they have stabilised. Covid hospitalisations are too high but they have stabilised, as have Covid ICU admissions. It is important that we remember this. This is a tough time. The entire world is worried about this Omicron variant but the efforts the Irish people have made, and continue to make, are working. Even in the face of this incredibly contagious variant called Delta, people's efforts are bearing fruit. It is important we remember that.

I appeal for as much solidarity as possible. I acknowledge that I and the Government have a role to play in that and I have heard what colleagues said, both today and yesterday. I ask that that be reciprocated. Some of what I have heard this evening from some in Sinn Féin, albeit not everyone, and others is people saying they support the public health-led approach and public health advice, but then rubbishing that advice in certain sectors like schools. Schools are following the public advice to the letter.

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