Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On 11 March 2020, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, forecast 85,000 people could die from the coronavirus. The death toll today is 4,989, thankfully a long way from what was predicted. We now have the data. We now know the virus. We know what to do to keep ourselves safe and what level of risk to take. On 31 May, I spoke up in this Chamber about the contradictions in the Government’s reopening plan. However, nothing was done. Hotels served dinners indoors while restaurants and pubs had their trade confined to outdoors. Back in May I agreed with the comments of Adrian Cummins of the Restaurants Association of Ireland who called the double standards unjust and discriminatory. However, nothing was done. Hospitality struggled on with one glimmer of hope - 5 July. Nearly a month on from 31 May, I find myself disheartened, dispirited and unmotivated to see the already inadequate plan is about to be changed. The date of 5 July, with the already overdue promises it held, is about to be ripped away. Nearly a month on from 31 May, I find myself using the same rhetoric - people in power are playing with people’s lives and that is a very serious problem. Does the Government realise the impact this will have on pubs and restaurants or on our aviation sector? Does it realise the impact it is having on all those currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and waiting to go back to work? Does it realise how long our hospitality and aviation sectors have already suffered? If the Government realised the impact its lack of leadership is having, it would not be waiting until Wednesday, 30 June, five days before the promised date of 5 July, to decide whether it will help or hinder hospitality in this country. If it chooses to hinder it by refusing to stick to the roadmap, the consequences will be serious.

I listened to an interview on RTÉ Radio 1 of Dr. Sam McConkey, probably better know as “Dr. Zero Covid” who stated the 5 July date for reopening of our next phase should go ahead. I cannot stress the damage that would be done due to the Government’s decision and its subsequent indecision about its decisions. To lock down or not to lock down, that is the constant question we ask in this country and the result is severe instability.

Over the weekend I read an interesting article on the city state of Singapore, which has decided to treat Covid like any other endemic disease such as flu. It has stopped its zero transmission targets, its people will stop wearing masks, it will halt lockdowns and it will no longer require quarantines. Its people will learn to live with Covid-19. In the words of their trade, finance and health ministers, "We can't eradicate it, but we can turn the pandemic into something much less threatening, like influenza, ... or chickenpox, and get on with our lives." Get on with our lives, that is what we all want to do, but when will that happen? This Government will not be able to decide on anything, so I could not ask it to decide on that. Instead I will tell it now and when it should happen. Now is when we should be leading the country back with strong leadership. Now is when we should get on with it.