Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is welcome to the Chamber as always. May I extend my heartiest congratulations to him, on the heroic work of the HSE, and the Irish Government, on the incredibly efficient way the vaccination programme is being rolled out. I got my jab the other day in the Punchestown centre. The centre had a wonderful atmosphere and there was a stunningly efficient roll out. I am told that Kildare efficiency is replicated or near replicated throughout the Republic of Ireland and are we not so fortunate?

I must disagree with the Minister in respect of extending the draconian emergency powers all the way to November. We have been through one of the most challenging times in all our lifetimes and this pandemic has tested everyone. Initially, it was fear that engulfed us and many feared death as a dangerous virus circulated within communities. We tuned into a media that was dominated by death and case number statistics. At the beginning we knew that science struggled to understand and overcome the threat. We retreated into our homes. We stayed apart even though it went against the grain of who we are as social creatures. We kept a stony distance from the people we love. A series of immensely mentally draining lockdowns sucked the heart out of our nation. A control culture evolved and we lost basic freedoms to move and socialise. We have lost people, families have been shattered, businesses have been destroyed and the health service has been stretched like never before. We must never forget the heroes of the hour: all those on the front line.

Optimism, fellow Senators, has returned and hope has been harnessed by the wonders of scientific genius. The vaccination programme is instilling even more hope. Hope is breathing again. We may soon have much of our old lives back but now we need to renew, reinvigorate and reenergise. We need to renew our spirit as a people and look forward. We need to rebuild. We need to move away from a sense of being controlled to finding our feet again. We will need to assess what we have been through and learn from it. We need to move away from draconian restrictions and reclaim our sense of freedom and autonomy. We must harness hope and let optimism triumph over pessimism.

Optimism and optimists are never afraid of failure. They keep trying. Pessimists are governed by a fear of failure. They prefer to be in control and are always prepared for the worst case scenario. We have to live again and the last thing that we need is a plan for a future, theoretical curtailing of our basic freedoms. Let us move on and bask in the glory of success. Let us plan for doomsday scenarios when we feel them approaching but not in anticipation of them possibly happening. With an approach like that we allow the possibility of hope to die. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties said about this legislation, particularly about extending the most draconian measures all the way to November:

This is one of the most draconian pieces of legislation our State has ever seen. And while most of us accept it was necessary to rush it through in March 2020, June 2021 is a different time. We have learned lessons and we must apply those lessons in law. We cannot set a precedent where government can continue to grant itself powers like these without first meaningfully bringing them before the people - via our elected representatives in the Oireachtas.

I say "well done" to the Minister. He has taken a few hits. He has probably switched out of the media but he is a resilient man and a listening person. It would be churlish of people who have criticised him in the past not to have the gumption and good grace to accept that, as things go, fingers crossed, he is presiding over a most efficient vaccine roll-out. It is important to give credit where credit is due. This extension to November, however, will dampen hope. I ask the Minister to look at it. The Bill is only on Second Stage. Is it really necessary to kick these draconian powers all the way to November? I think that could damage our hope, and I say this in the context of the most successful vaccine roll-out and where we expect to be with the high percentages come November. I would not mind coming in here in a few months' time, but a carte blancheuntil November? I know it is only a theoretical button but it is such a frightening button of draconian power to press. It does not sit well with me, and we should do this as reluctantly as possible.