Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last Friday evening, Members debated yet another extension of the draconian powers that have been handed to the Minister for Health for more than 20 months now. While Members were in the Chamber, the Taoiseach took to the airwaves to talk to the public and went over the heads of some members of the public to talk to the children. He told us that we were implementing new more draconian measures than we previously signed into law, which will be debated further in this Chamber this evening. For more than 20 months now, the Minister for Health could sign into law whatever he chose, which has had massive impacts on the livelihoods of our citizens throughout the country. On Friday, for example, the Taoiseach announced the introduction of tighter restrictions on the hospitality industry with the closure of nightclubs and a suite of measures, including the reduction of numbers and table service. This is not to mention the arts and entertainment industry, which has been wiped out completely.

With the apparent admission that Covid passes do not stop the transmission of Covid, one would think the Government would move to scrap these discriminatory passes altogether. Instead, it has doubled down and put more pressure on people. That is a retrograde step. What studies have been carried out into the effectiveness of Covid digital certificates in stopping or reducing the transmission of Covid-19? Will the Government publish the studies on the effectiveness of certificates and bring them before the House for debate? We have had no debate on it and we have no evidence.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties which, among others, is opposed to the extension of Covid passes noted that whenever the Government introduces legislation that effects and impacts the rights of citizens, it must carry out a ballpark test on its "necessity and proportionality" - those are the council's words and not mine. It stated:

It must show evidence that the measure[s] introduced ... [are] necessary to achieve a particular aim. To that end, [the] Government has yet to ... [provide any] evidence.

Will the Government bring forward the evidence, if it has it, and have it debated in the House on what specific benefit the system has, and will have, in the coming months, despite the massive impact it has on our people?

I want a straight answer from the Taoiseach about digital passes. Have they any benefit in stopping the transmission of Covid? I believe they have not. As I said, the data clearly suggests that they do not work to stop transmission. Since the introduction of vaccine certificates, we have seen 323,000 positive cases. The Government needs to produce the evidence and show us clearly why certificates have not curbed the spread of Covid or diminished it in any shape, make or form. I want the Taoiseach to present this information, if he has it. He should have it because he talked about the science. Show us where the science is. These certificates are discriminatory and, as I said previously, are providing medical apartheid to the people of our country.

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