Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to address the issue of bars and restaurants re-opening on Tuesday, 1 December. I noted the comments made by the Chief Medical Officer this week expressing doubt that such advice would be given. It is essential that we approach this from a realistic angle. Perhaps 2020 has been the toughest year in the history of the State so people will at least like to socialise for Christmas. In the absence of pubs and restaurants the inevitable reality is, as we have seen previously, that house parties will happen everywhere.

The data on outbreaks and clusters, as the Cathaoirleach will be aware, from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre make it clear such house parties are a far bigger problem than bars and restaurants that act responsibly, follow guidelines and have controlled environments. The data reflect that of 6,700 clusters, less than 1% are related to pubs or restaurant settings. We have proven, under Government guidelines, that in late June there was no increase in the infection rate attributed to pubs and restaurants. Naturally, the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, is going to recommend that restaurants and pubs remain closed. Its focus, rightly, is on Covid-19 rather than on the broader range of issues the Government needs to consider. I imagine that NPHET would like everyone to stay at home until a vaccine is rolled out but the Government needs to be more realistic. That is not going to happen and the Government must consider human nature.

The hospitality sector, as we are all know, has been hammered by the pandemic. As I come from that background, I can state with certainly that December is a crucial month that provides income to cover the lean months ahead until St. Patrick's Day. Thousands of small businesses that employ tens of thousands of people across the country currently face an uncertain future and wonder if they will survive a crisis not of their making.

I will make a final vital point about a two-tier economy. The fact is that the thousands of people who work in this industry will not have money for Christmas. They are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, which will put these workers and their families are under severe financial pressure. As we all know, gatherings will happen in December. Therefore, controlled environments such as pubs and restaurants are a far safer option to protect public health than uncontrolled settings that house parties provide.