Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I ask the Leader to try to organise a debate in this House, possibly next week, on the issue of living with Covid. As we approach the 5 April deadline where we expect to see some changing of restrictions, it would be appropriate that the views of Senators be heard on this important issue. If we are to hold the people with us, there has to be a credible lifting of some of the restrictions. It will be difficult to keep the public with us unless we show them some positive response to what they have achieved over the past number of months.

There is a plateauing of, and perhaps a slight increase in, case numbers but the most vulnerable people are being vaccinated. All those in nursing homes are vaccinated. Those aged over 80 are now being vaccinated and we hope we will get quickly to the over 70s. The important cohort aged between 16 and 69 is en route to being vaccinated.

We have to get to a point - I think the point comes when the over 70s are vaccinated - where we get to open up the economy again. We know there will be cases but the severe illness, hospitalisation and death rates will be well-reduced at that stage.

The restrictions are all about trying to ensure that our hospitals are not overcome. It is not possible to prevent death from Covid or from any other illness and some sight has been lost of that. It is about now ensuring that the hospitals give everyone who gets Covid the best chance to survive.One cannot go any further. What we want to see in the coming days is the lifting of the 5 km restriction. It cannot be to 10 km or just county-wide, but lifted entirely. Sports training for young people has to be back on the agenda. I know from the considerable personal experience of people who have contacted me the toll it is taking on the mental health of young students. Last week, we discussed eating disorders. The incidence of that is increasing. It is all playing into the mental health issues. General construction must return and house repairs and on-off building must be permitted. We need religious services again, albeit in a controlled way. In addition, people like to play a game of golf, and they are generally retirees who will mainly be vaccinated and stay apart. I believe activities such as golf and tennis should be reopened next week.

Nobody is jumping up and down looking for hospitality, pubs, hotels and the like to open. People are prepared to wait for that. This is very important, and I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for the latitude. I hope we can have a debate next week so we can put that firmly on the record and ensure we get considerable movement to keep the Irish people with us.