Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House. It is a pity, in many ways, this Bill must be introduced because the overwhelming majority of citizens in the State are trying to do the right thing. We need to acknowledge that fact in this debate. It is a pity we cannot legislate to address stupidity but some people are blatantly seeking to disregard the public health guidelines which are in all our interests.

In the approach the Government is taking where a measure needs to be taken to sanction those flagrantly breaching public health guidelines, we must reinforce the positives. We must send out a message to people about what they can do to give them hope and encourage them to follow public health guidelines.

In north Wexford where I live, as the Minister of State will be aware, we have seen a significant spike in cases. That is causing serious concern in the community. The message we have put out in own local community is to reinforce the positive messages of communities working together, washing our hands, keeping the distance and wearing a mask properly. We have been seeking to reinforce those under the slogan: "use your head, stop the spread." It is also about ensuring we support local businesses. I ask the Minister of State during this difficult time to ensure those positive messages are sent out as well as setting out a penal sanction.

It is important any anomalies that may exist or are perceived to exist are addressed. One concern I have, which I have raised with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, relates to the retail sector. Those businesses engaged in the sale of clothes in particular are concerned some supermarkets and large outlets continue to sell clothes while menswear stores and boutiques are not allowed to do it. It is ridiculous that I cannot go into a local menswear shop to buy a pair of socks, yet I can find them on sale in one of the large supermarkets. Other retail outlets are trying to get around the regulations and because they are selling PPE equipment in one corner of the store they think they can open. This is very unfair to the independent main street retailers. I ask the Minister of State to address that.

All of us as Oireachtas members have faced a variety of queries from people who are trying to do the right thing but they are not certain about it. I have asked that we consider setting up a Covid helpline within the Minister of State’s Department, if not for the general public then certainly for Members of the Oireachtas, to ensure that when we have specific queries, concerns or issues that may arise we are able to get a very direct answer. We have all, as I am sure has the Minister of State, received questions from people to which we do not know the exact answer. If would help if the Department could set up such a helpline.

It is a pity we must introduce these penal sanctions but it is necessary because a small number of people in this State are not merely making mistakes but are deliberately setting out to breach and flaunt the law. Sinn Féin is seeking to remove the requirements around imprisonment but I think they are necessary. Where there are repeated breaches of public health guidelines we need to have the possibility of the sanction of imprisonment by the courts because some people do not care about fines. The thugs we would have seen in the city centre in recent days abusing members of the Garda Síochána will not care about fines and the option of having to imprison them is essential. It is also essential to continue to have the confidence of the overwhelming majority of people in this State who want to do the right thing. They are worried about their loved ones and their businesses and they see these thugs out on the street abusing members of the Garda who are doing their best in very difficult circumstances; we need to take action against thugs.

It is unfortunate a very vocal but unrepresentative group has sprung up at the height of a pandemic that is threatening people’s lives and businesses and that some people do not believe any rules apply to them. It is unfortunate we must introduce these measures but it is necessary. All of us in this House must ensure we stand up to those thugs who are out on the street abusing the members of the Garda. There have been some in these Houses who have given platforms to these people in the past but it is not acceptable to give platforms to the likes of Gemma O’Doherty and some of her cohort. It is not acceptable that they continue to go out and abuse members of the Garda who are workers on behalf of the State. We have always had a police force that works on the basis of public acceptance.

While I wish, as I am sure everyone would wish, this legislation was never necessary, we know that because of a small minority we now need to bring it in. I will strongly support the legislation. I believe, as I am sure do the majority of people, that for the people who are flouting it, fines are not good enough; we need to consider imprisoning them.