Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Nobody wants to personalise the debate. We are all here to serve the people and to do the best we can throughout this crisis. Last July in this House, I was one of the first to call for PCR testing at our airports and ports. We want to keep our country open for business and we want to do it safely. PCR testing was only introduced in December. Members on this side of the House have provided good ideas but they have not been taken on board by the Government. The Government has no real solution for Covid except lockdowns and vaccinations and we have to wait for the vaccinations to be rolled out.

There are countries on this list, and I will take the United Arab Emirates from the category 2 list as an example. Some 61 doses of vaccine per 100 people have been administered in the United Arab Emirates and in Ireland we have administered a vaccine to eight of every 100 people. What is the scientific rationale and evidence for having the United Arab Emirates on that list?

We are here to offer constructive criticism and to do our best to support the Government in what it is doing. There are eminent people on this side of the House who know a lot more about legislation than I do. There are also some of us on this side of the House who have good ideas on how to run companies and businesses, and it is important the Government takes those perspectives on board.