Seanad debates

Monday, 31 May 2021

Health (Amendment) Act 2021: Motion

 

10:30 am

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister back to the House and support the motion extending mandatory hotel quarantine to 30 July. It is a hugely draconian measure and I am delighted that its extension is only for a very short period. I am also delighted that the Minister has taken France, Belgium and the USA off the list. The French are now our nearest EU neighbours and there is a lot more activity between France and Ireland, with more ferries running between our two nations, for example. I would have had a problem with the motion before us were it not for the fact that France has been taken off the list.

I welcome the European green certificate. Countries such as Portugal, France, Italy and Greece are opening up for the tourist season and we must do the same. There must be a balance between the economy and public health. In fairness to the Government, over the last year and a half it has struck a very good balance in most cases. Nobody can get everything right and the same is true of the Government but a fair balance has been struck.

Like Senator Conway, I would like to hear a little more on the appeal system. My heart went out to the family that came from Australia just after mandatory hotel quarantine was introduced. They could have isolated at home which would have been of benefit to them both mentally and financially. An enormous cost was borne by that family in having to quarantine in one of our quarantine hotels. They should have been allowed to self-isolate in a house as a family. Have there been any cases of people contracting Covid-19 in the quarantine hotels?

I welcome the motion.

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