Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House. I thank him for the work he is doing in dealing with a difficult sector of the economy that has gone through a difficult period in recent months.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel as we begin a process of coming out of the latest level of lockdown and it is incumbent on all of us to show leadership in how we manage that process. The State stepped in, as it had to and should, in protecting businesses to the greatest extent possible with various financial supports through this period. Of course, it is never enough. It never could be enough. Of course, it will not address the significant loss in income that many small businesses have suffered. It has, however, effectively helped them to survive in a basic way during this period. Now, as there as some light at the end of the tunnel, we must be careful how we re-engage with the public, and the public must be careful how it re-engages with social and retail activity.

I believe, as we enter the Christmas period and exit this latest level of restrictions, that the public have learned an inordinate amount about this virus. Much more care is taken by people now. People do not congregate in the same way. They wash their hands much more, wear face coverings and keep their distance. In the main, people have stayed away from events such as funerals, matches and different visitations to houses. Even in important circumstances, people have chosen not to do that. We must, therefore, show people that we trust them, and I believe that requires opening the economy to the greatest extent possible. People have learned a lot. People who feel they have compromised a health situation are saying to me that they could have gone to a work event but did not. They chose to stay at home to protect individuals and family members. They chose not to do the grocery shopping on a weekly basis because they know it might put them in some danger. There is, therefore, much better understanding.

Human behaviour has changed immensely, so let us start to treat people as adults. Let us stop this blame game. I am sure, when restrictions lift, a bunch of teenagers who have been dramatically affected by this lockdown will do something we might otherwise say was stretching the boundary. Let us not hammer them, however. There will be small breaches. That is why regulations and rules are there. People will have minor indiscretions. Let us concentrate on the big picture which, for me, is getting that economic activity going. Let people engage with it in a careful and conscious way that limits the risk of them contracting the virus, and where they might be prone to have caught it, to limit to the greatest extent possible the ability to be a spreader of the virus.

Retail is on its knees. The Minister of State does not need me to talk to him about that. We need to see the retail sector open. We need to see beauty care, hairdressers, barbers and nail parlours. That needs to open next week. I argue that we need to see restaurants and pubs open too. There is some argument against opening wet pubs but if we tried to corral everyone into a restaurant right now - because the demand will be there - we will only increase the intensification of people in a social setting. Set certain limits on the numbers that should be there. Set earlier closing times or put greater restrictions on owners regarding sanitation and sanitising certain areas. Let people make choices, however. I believe they have learned a lot and will make those choices.

Cattle marts need to have buyers back around the ring. I appeal to the Minister of State because I see no chance of there being any risk of the spread of the virus in that environment. I mention hunting. I am not a huntsman, but other people are, and for them it is an important pursuit. It is part of their leisure activity. That restriction needs to be lifted next week. Hare coursing meetings are set around the country. I am not into hare coursing. I do not have a dog, but other people do, and it is their livelihood. The return some people might get from the breeding and sale of dogs in a controlled and regulated environment is the capacity to send a kid to college. Hare coursing, in the manner it is now practised, is part of that whole industry. The State supports the industry, and it should, in the same way it supports the horse racing industry because it employs many people. We must let those activities operate again.

I am also taken by the fact that certain activities were allowed in the last period, but something like dancing was excluded. Perhaps, I underestimate it. None of my kids danced in the past when they were younger. I have, however, been taken by the number of calls I have received from people who want to get back dancing. To them, it is not just an important leisure pursuit; it is also good for their physical activity, particularly the kind of figure dancing that is done among a younger cohort of people. Some people go to the gym, some play hurling or basketball and some dance. If it is done in a controlled and careful way, I do not see a good reason for restricting it.

I appeal to the Minister of State to be as trusting as he can be of the Irish people, accepting that there will be indiscretions. Give as much advice and as many guidelines as are necessary so people who want to adhere to them will do so. Place some trust as we head into the Christmas period.

While I listen to what NPHET and the various experts say about international travel and not wanting to seed another cluster of the virus from outside the State, there are people who will want to come home for Christmas to see their parents. In some cases, it might be their last opportunity to see an elderly parent or grandparent. I appeal that by lifting restrictions, we do not create some enormous burden on those who want to come home. Let the advice be that we would prefer they did not, but if they do, let us not put an inordinate burden on them. Let us not put them in some kind of closet or put some kind of shadow over them that they will be embarrassed to be seen when they come. Let us not do that.