Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will make a brief contribution. I do not wish to delay the debate on the legislation as we have a lot of work to get through. I believe it is disingenuous of some Members to point the finger at the Government for changing its position. This virus has been changing and evolving over the past 12 months. Positions change when the facts change. We have been moving rapidly and have done a good job in Ireland, despite what some people want to say. We have maintained social solidarity.

Perhaps Members of the Opposition will acknowledge their own changing position. On the one hand, people were calling before Christmas for the wet pubs to reopen and now suddenly they want to have a completely different and disproportionate regime put in place. Senator Ward rightly pointed out that the current proposed legislation will give the Minister the flexibility that is needed to move in a rapidly changing environment.

Quite honestly, it is very surprising to hear Senator Bacik advocating for this completely disproportionate measure. I am surprised because I am used to Senator Bacik's contributions in the previous Seanad in particular. I feel that maybe this one is not in keeping with her own views on the issue. Non-essential travel-----