Seanad debates

Monday, 5 July 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Lisa ChambersLisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome and agree to the Order of Business. I wish to raise the issue of dementia and Alzheimer's day care centres across the country. It was brought to my attention recently that very few of these centres have reopened. The person who spoke to me wisely put it that we spend a lot of time talking about pubs, bars and restaurants and very little time talking about the essential services families rely upon that have been shut for a year and a half. I have spoken to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, who informs me that initially only 14 of the Alzheimer's day centres are to open and that we are looking at 100 opening this week. That is still a long way off getting all centres open.

Families rely on respite care for their loved ones to get time to themselves and recharge so they can get back to doing full-time care work for family members that need it. For the person suffering with dementia or Alzheimer's, part of ensuring longevity and coping with their condition is having those activities and day care centres. People deteriorate fast if they do not have access to same. I am dealing with a case at home where the individual went from having five days per week to having nothing for the past year and a half. This has put huge pressure on the family to keep him at home and make sure he is looked after. They are doing a fantastic job but he needs those day services. Will the Leader submit a request to the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to see what we can do about getting the centres open without further delay?

I raise the ongoing negotiations involving the hospitality industry. Today, the industry is meeting a cross-departmental group. I listened to Adrian Cummins on radio earlier. He put it well when stating that discussions are taking place but that NPHET will not be at the table. Those involved know they have to go through NPHET to get their plan off the ground. I agree with them and support the call for NPHET to get involved in the negotiations with the hospitality sector and find a way to get the industry open in the next couple of weeks.

I reiterate a point I made previously: I am not in favour of a Covid pass that would exclude those who have not had the opportunity to have a vaccine or, for whatever reason, cannot take a vaccine from indoor hospitality. I point to the ridiculous situation whereby many of those young people will be working in hospitality, serving others dinner and drinks and will not able to come around the other side of the bar and have a drink after their shift. That sends the wrong message. The Leader has repeatedly made strong calls for rapid antigen testing and that should coincide with the reopening of hospitality to make sure nobody is left behind.

This week, the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU will publish its interim report. It will be launched at 11 a.m. on Thursday. An invitation will go to all Senators. I thank committee members and the Cathaoirleach for their support and the committee secretariat for its work over the past six months in putting the report together. We have made strong recommendations and will resume our meetings in the autumn session to follow up on those recommendations and look into any further developments in the Brexit process that might occur over the summer months.

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