Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire freisin ar an ábhar an-tábhachtach ar fad seo. I start by saying "Congratulations". The achievement of the Government and the Minister's Department in the roll-out of the vaccination programme has not just been exceptional but has been a watershed in terms of dealing with this virus. The Minister deserves great credit for it. We can rightly be proud of the work that was done by staff in the HSE, pharmacies and GP practices throughout country to ensure every citizen who wanted a vaccine could get one. I very much welcome that.

I know there are certain people who do not want the vaccine, and I agree with the right they have not to take it. I do not agree with some of the emails I have received recently to say this is the beginning of a fracturing of Irish society. While acknowledging that people have the right to choose not to take the vaccine, they also have the right to make that choice in circumstances where it gives rise to certain other consequences. When we make choices, there are consequences one way or the other. However, while part of the vaccination programme and part of this legislation does create, by some arguments, a divide, more importantly it facilitates those who wish to engage in particular activities to do so in a safe way. My colleague, Senator Byrne, just mentioned how important it is for people who go into restaurants to feel safe. That is exactly the purpose of this legislation, to allow businesses to re-establish themselves, get back to work, allow their employees to get back to work, and allow us as members of society to re-engage in the kind of activities we have all missed so much.

The Minister will be aware of the enormous demonstration that is taking place on Molesworth Street outside today relating to maternity services, which has been mentioned by other colleagues. I have been out there this afternoon listening to what are genuinely harrowing stories from not just women but their partners, who have been denied an opportunity to be together at wonderfully joyful moments and at tragic and sad moments when perhaps the news was not good in terms of a pregnancy.I understand that the Minister has listened to what they have to say and that he agrees with them - at least on one level - but the time has come for the foot to be put down in the Department and for very clear messages to be sent to our maternity hospitals that the guidelines are to be followed and that it is no longer acceptable to exclude partners from the maternity process, be it an early scan, birth or postnatal care. The reality is that this is part and parcel of the care that is provided.

Covid has not yet left us. I recognise that by bringing this motion, the Minister recognises that and sees a need for the continuation of certain powers that we passed into law through this House and the Dáil. At the same time, we know that with the vaccination programme and the progress we have made on this, there is a safe way to facilitate people who must go into maternity hospitals and for people to be present at the birth of their children, at scans or, God forbid, when bad news is delivered. It is incumbent on the Department and by extension, the Minister to make it clear to maternity hospitals that this is the case. There are discrepancies around the country in terms of how hospitals deal with this, which is neither fair nor reasonable. The Minister has been here for the debate on this motion so he has not had an opportunity to go outside to talk to the people who are out there, but I can assure him there is a lot of deep feeling based on reality and reasonableness. It is not something they are saying on the hoof. These are people who have experienced the difficulty caused by those restrictions.

All of the restrictions create problems and I know the Minister and other Members acknowledge it. Every restriction will create a different level of difficulty for different people but I also think we recognise that they are necessary. I recognise the need for the continuation of the Covid passports or the digital certificate that allows people to enter restaurants but I also recognise that later this month, we will remove a lot of the restrictions about which we have been talking. I wonder whether the date until which the Minister is seeking to continue the restrictions is the right one. Could the Minister comment on whether an earlier date would be more appropriate?

I congratulate the Minister. I ask him to recognise the difficulties that restrictions cause. I ask him also to recognise that there is a fundamental inconsistency between the notion that we will lift those restrictions later this month and this proposal to continue the power of the Government to impose restrictions. Perhaps we should examine the possibility of an earlier closure of the powers the Government was given by the Houses of the Oireachtas.