Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on the first 12 months of his term and I look forward to the next 12 months.

Senator Burke spoke on driver theory tests. We have had that issue where people have turned up to do the test and have not been notified that the place is closed. I concur with the Senator's proposals.

I welcome the increase in capacity proposed for sporting events. I hope it could be introduced by this weekend. We have a large number of championship games on and it would give an opportunity for the public to travel and support their home counties.

I will speak on the hospitality industry, as others Members have. As tourism spokesperson for Fine Gael in the Seanad, I have empathy for people in the industry, given what they are hearing this morning. These businesses have been closed in the region of 15 months. Over recent months, we have seen how successful outdoor dining has been. Some businesses are open and grant schemes have been put in place but those that have not been able to open have been waiting for 5 July and now it looks like that will be put back further with no definitive date given.

We have people travelling to Northern Ireland for their holidays because they cannot dine where they wish. NPHET states in its proposals that it is not opposed to vaccinated people eating indoors. We need to look at the possibility of that proposal. We need to take control. There are tens of thousands of people in the hospitality industry in restaurants and pubs and they are entitled to make a living, which they have not been able to do over the last 15 months. We need to take a serious look at this and put definitive dates in place for when they can open their businesses.