Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

In many European countries, front-line workers have expressed their opposition and concerns with regard to the rapid dismantling of Covid restrictions, including the mandatory wearing of masks. While it is true the Irish Government has been slightly slower to move in this direction, concerns are being expressed here by workers such as teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, public transport workers, retail workers and others, with particular reference to the change in masking policy for their workplaces. I believe they have grounds for some concerns. For example, 596 children aged 14 or under were hospitalised in Ireland with Covid between 22 December and 17 February. Several times before, most notably in the summer of 2020 and at Christmas 2020, the Taoiseach's Government made serious errors in removing restrictions too quickly. To be clear, it is clearly proportionate at this stage to remove many restrictions. I would like the Taoiseach, however, to comment on the concerns raised by these front-line workers on the masking issues in their own workplaces.

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