Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the debate on the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020 later today. It is the next piece of legislation this House will seek to pass to assist businesses to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and to try to get back up and running as best as possible. As has been said numerous times, we are in this together but we are in this for the long haul. This is not something we will see an end to any time soon. I acknowledge the considerable frustration and upset for many publicans across the country, who will be disappointed that the roadmap to reopening the country has been slowed down somewhat.Many publicans will appreciate and understand that the rationale behind the decision is that public health is of the utmost importance. It is the top priority. The Government is working towards prioritising the reopening of schools. Protecting public health is a top priority.

I have spoken to several publicans in recent days. The key message from them is that they wish to know when they will be able to reopen in order that they can order stock and make provisions. Many publicans told me that although they are eager to reopen, they are quite happy to wait another couple of weeks to so do if that is in the interests of the country. I fully understand the frustration and upset caused to many, particularly in rural parts of the country. In my constituency of Mayo, many rural pubs have very small numbers of customers. That said, they appreciate they are part of the wider network of publicans. The publicans told me they are somewhat aggrieved that the actions of a small number in some parts of the country have impacted on the many. Those actions are regrettable. Unfortunately, we must act as one in this regard. We are one nation and one country. It is disappointing that the reopening is being postponed, but it is necessary nonetheless.

I welcome the public health advice that people should wear masks or other face coverings in shops and retail outlets. I do not know about the experience of other Members, but I have seen that not everybody in the supermarket, local shop and various other outlets in my town of Castlebar and other places is wearing a face covering. Some people are wearing them, but others are not. We wear face coverings not just to protect ourselves and our families but to protect everyone else as well. A person with Covid-19 may be unaffected by it, be in very good health and asymptomatic, and may come through it very easily, but he or she may infect another person who will not be so lucky. That person may infect another person with an underlying health condition or who is elderly, a person in the community who is vulnerable and would not withstand the disease. It is important that we wear face coverings to protect others and not just to protect ourselves. The evidence is mounting all the time that if we all wear face coverings, we will slow down and stop the spread of the virus and ensure the most vulnerable in our society are protected.