Seanad debates

Friday, 16 July 2021

Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second and Subsequent Stages

 

9:30 am

Photo of Ollie CroweOllie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will indeed. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank Senators Doherty and Currie. I want to support this Bill. As all Members of the House have said, it is far from the preferred way of reopening indoor hospitality. It is far from the ideal way of doing so. I compliment the Government which is doing an exceptional job. Vaccinations for another section of the youth, those aged 25 to 29, opened today which is very welcome. We need to reopen without restrictions and something is needed until we can complete the vaccination programme. This would appear to be the best compromise. Having spent most of my life working in the hospitality sector, the summer period is absolutely crucial for all businesses. The feedback I have gotten from businesses across Galway city and County Galway is that while it is not ideal, they would far prefer to open up indoors in this manner than remain closed any longer.The hospitality sector has been hit incredibly hard by the pandemic despite unprecedented Government supports. Thousands of small businesses remain under considerable pressure from the impact of a crisis not of their making. They need to open in the weeks ahead during the peak period of the year. In Galway or any other city or county, the reality is that one day in July is like a week in November. I ask the Government to act swiftly to try to reopen society in the coming days.

I recognise that there are concerns and criticisms about the reopening on the other side of the House. Those who have knowledge of the sector, such as Senator Casey and others, recognise the significant pressure businesses, the majority of which are small family run businesses, are under. They all agree that in the absence of being able to fully reopen that this is the best possible route to go down. Other colleagues have mentioned mental health, which, as I know from talking to various people, is a significant concern. We need to support people. This is a temporary measure and, at the rate our vaccination programme is delivering, I hope that it will be very short-lived. I look forward to a full resumption of indoor hospitality in the near future as we continue to emerge from Covid.

Other Senators raised the timeframe relating to antigen testing. When will we get certainty about that? It would be a matter of asking the general public to take personal responsibility.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.