Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We are well aware of the impact that the increasing number of Covid cases is having on hospitals that were already extremely busy. We are also aware of the impact the virus is having on the health of many at the moment.

At all times in the Government's response to the huge challenge of the pandemic we were guided by public health advice. We were always informed by the input we received from public health experts. As Deputies know, the Government still reserved its right to make decisions based on a variety of factors. We have not received advice to change the guidance relating to the wearing of masks in the settings referred to by the Deputy, but were we to get that advice we would act on it. We will continue to be guided by the advice that comes from the public health experts on the wearing of masks.

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