Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We do. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. When we initially reviewed the legislation back in March we were in a different situation and, sadly, in some ways we were in a better situation. While we knew that there was a crisis, and many of us knew it would be a long-term crisis, to some degree we had a clarity of message and purpose, in that we would flatten the curve and during that period we would see a huge investment in ICU capacity. At the time I pushed for ventilators by asking for enough of them to be purchased, sought greater ICU capacity and called for a huge recruitment drive. We praised the fact that thousands of people came forward and volunteered to work for the HSE. It is extraordinary that so many of the people who volunteered for contact tracing and to work in front-line healthcare are still not in our system.

We were promised at the time that there would be huge measures to scale up our response and capacity but that did not adequately happen. As a result, people's trust was damaged. Moreover, not only did we not use the time as fully as we should have, we did not even follow through on the mission to fully flatten the curve because when we were at the point where the number of cases were very low, and zero Covid was a very real and practical possibility with many experts advising it, we decided to jump a step and to short-circuit. Again, lobbying by various industries meant that we jumped ahead but were premature. I was against the loosening of restrictions at that exact moment because zero Covid was in sight. Trust has been damaged in that context.

My group and I understand the severity of this health emergency. We absolutely send our wishes to all of those who have suffered. I refer to the 500 people who have gone through ICU, the 1,583 people who have lost their lives and those who live with the long-term effects of Covid. We also sympathise with the front-line workers. It is because of all that that we need to hold the Government to account.

During the debate in March I raised a number of concerns. Like many others, I called for the sunset clause. I also raised specific concerns about the mental health provisions in terms of what supports or advocacy might be involved. We were given lots of assurances that there would be engagement. Since the debate, I sent as many as seven queries to the Department of Health and not one of them was answered. I had to get Deputies to table parliamentary questions in the Dáil asking the Minister for Health to respond to my question that it was said would be answered in the Dáil. He gave a very weak answer in May that the HSE was "finalising protocols and procedures and support arrangements". I would like the Minister of State present to commit here as to what the channel of communication will be between the Department of Health and Senators. How can the Government ask us to abdicate our scrutiny?

The Government's priorities seem to be somewhat skewed. I am shocked, frankly, that horse racing and greyhound racing, whose only purpose is to serve the gambling industry, are moving ahead yet women cannot have their partners with them during very difficult maternity situations, including miscarriage.

There was a problem in terms of a lack of information in the interim. We have not been given the information that we need. There is a real concern that at times the Government seems to lack the information it needs. Can we be assured there will be proper contact tracing, and not just future contacts but sources? If not we will be in a cycle forever.

Again, it is inappropriate to review these measures without reviewing how the previous powers were used. It is in that context, recognising the emergency we are in, the severe health circumstances and number of cases, I support the Sinn Féin amendment. Also, before next February we need to see a review of how the powers given were implemented. The Government has not earned a seven-month blank cheque in terms of provision in this area. We can give a three-month extension that allows for proper scrutiny and debate, and a clear robust exchange of information in order that collectively, we can fulfil our responsibility to address the pandemic and these urgent circumstances.

I urge the Minister of State to accept the Sinn Féin amendment, as it is a fair and reasonable compromise. I ask her to commit that she will review how the powers are used and give the information to the Minister.

We have been told on a number of occasions that more powers are needed. Let us be clear. Ireland has had successes but where it has failed in its response to Covid, it has not been due to an absence of powers but to a failure of policies. Therefore, those policies must be accountable.