Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today. We in Fianna Fáil support the extension of the sunset clauses for both Part 5 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 and Part 3 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020.

Regrettably, the ongoing presence of Covid-19 still presents a significant public health emergency and poses a considerable threat to human life. The latest Covid figures, as the Minister of State outlined, showed yesterday that three additional deaths were recorded. That brings the total of deaths in Ireland to 1,868 people, that is, 1,868 families who have been affected directly by Covid-19. As of midnight, Tuesday, 20 October, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, has been notified of 1,167 confirmed Covid cases and there is now a total of 53,422 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. As of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 314 Covid patients were hospitalised, 34 of whom are in intensive care units, ICU. There were 27 additional hospitalisations in the previous 24 hours. All of this is extremely worrying.

On 20 March last, the previous Seanad of which I was a Member was convened on an emergency basis to discuss the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020, as outlined. Not many amendments were made. However, the Seanad brought forward and included the sunset clause, the extension of which we support today, which puts a temporary timeframe limitation on these emergency powers that the Government is introducing.

Many people are directly affected by these regulations. It is not ideal to have to enact them. They include restrictions on moving from geographical areas, restrictions on working, the prohibition of events, and introducing safeguards in central workplaces, such as our own, schools and crèches so that they can continue.

Ultimately, there is a significant societal impact. There are significant mental health pressures on many people in society, not only the elderly living alone. Those who have businesses are massively impacted. Some businesses managed to scrape through the previous lockdown but, unfortunately, they may not survive the next period because it is uncertain when, in fact, it will end.

The Government has included considerable financial supports, from extending the wage subsidy schemes and the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP. These may not be enough to help the small businesses throughout the country. It is regrettable and upsetting that the virus has had such a stronghold on us, not only in Ireland but across Europe. These measures are obvious important in the face of this public health risk but the outcomes, every which way we look at it, are disastrous. Many of us have our own ideas and would say that if we were in government, we would have done X, Y and Z, and would have imposed curfews or fines earlier. Ultimately, however, when faced with the decisions on protecting public health and the economy, these decisions are hard made and they are not made quickly. A lot of consideration and thought are put into these types of decisions to ensure there is a balance between protecting public health and the economy, with public health supreme, as it should be.

I support the emergency measures in regard to allowing mental health tribunals to continue in a Covid environment. We know psychiatric reports can be done on a remote basis, which is welcomed by the HSE, by psychiatrists and by members of the tribunal, who have asked that this temporary measure be extended. We are happy to support that and the details have been outlined by the Minister. Over the Covid period, we have seen there has not been a drop in the work of the mental health tribunals and the increase in their work shows the worth of these temporary measures.

We in Fianna Fáil support the extension. I am glad to hear the Minister of State say that if the public health situation changes before June, she will recommend these measures are revoked, which is welcome. Hopefully, we are not here before 9 June to extend them again.