Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I pick up on what Senator Carrigy said about the GAA matches. I welcome the announcement of more spectators being able to come to matches. Last week in my county of Tipperary there were only 200 at the Waterford-Clare game. It is a massive stadium and I urge that those changes come in this weekend for the match in Semple Stadium between Cork and Limerick. We can surely host more than 200 people in an outdoor setting that can accommodate over 40,000 people.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly brought up maternity restrictions and a lack of full understanding of what is happening. We have been told by the Minister that all maternity wards are in line. We are told by Paul Reid that he cannot dictate running and management of all maternity hospitals. An expectant mother or partner who goes on the HSE website and looks at each of the 19 maternity wards in the country sees they are not aligned. Every hospital is slightly different. One talks of coming in established labour; another says one can come in on arrival. The guidance is totally different and that is just on the website. In terms of how they manage it outside of that, who knows?

I refer to the announcement today on possibly extending time. I ask the Government to give real guidance on holy communions and confirmations. Many of them are happening across my county and they need guidance and clarity on what will happen. Letters have been sent out to the Cashel-Emly diocese recommending they should be delayed until September. The Waterford-Lismore diocese I am in is told they are okay to continue. We need clarity for all of these. Parents and kids need to have it if it is okay.