Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know that with a puff from the magic dragon the restrictions were lifted at 6 o’clock last Friday. It would be churlish of me not to recognise the sense of relief and excitement felt by many people. Equally, many people have wondered what the context of this is, with a decision made outside of the Dáil, with no discussion and with a clár oibre anseo gan Covid-19 luaite beag ná mór. I am asking for a full debate on the context of Covid-19 and on the lifting of restrictions. We are all getting phone calls from nursing homes, for example, where people still cannot go in to visit their loved ones and where day centres are not operating. None of this has been put in perspective in respect of when the indemnity with the pharmaceutical companies comes to an end, or in respect of the compensation scheme. I do not expect the Taoiseach to answer now on all of these issues but I am asking for a full and frank discussion on an informed basis on the floor of the Dáil this week or next week, or as soon as possible.

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