Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the messaging through all sources of media on a lockdown in the middle of December. It is having a serious effect, particularly on many people in the tourism and hospitality industry, including pubs and restaurants. My party colleague, Councillor Colin Dalton, works for a local cash and carry that covers the midlands. I spoke to him this morning. Businesses are afraid to order in advance for Christmas based on what is in the media. They are afraid of being left with out of date stock. We need to come out quite clearly and state that we will not have a lockdown. We need to push a new communication message to get more people to get vaccinated. There is a responsibility on the 7% of people who have not been vaccinated to look at the effect they are having on our hospital service. I spoke to a relative who works as a theatre nurse manager in one of the major hospitals in Dublin. A significant number of theatre staff are not vaccinated. Unvaccinated staff are not allowed to work in theatres so hospital management must try to get agency staff to cover theatres because of staff who have not been vaccinated. There is a responsibility on people. We need to reinforce this message ahead of Christmas. It has to be our priority this year. We do not need a lockdown. Businesses have suffered enough. We need to support them.

David McRedmond, the chief executive of An Post, was on the radio this morning. As everyone knows, I work with An Post. There is a responsibility throughout the Government to support the network. It is a very difficult period for An Post. Our social welfare business dived dramatically during Covid. It is reducing by 12% per year. The long-term future not just of rural post offices but of the entire network including in cities is at a very difficult stage. I urge colleagues from all parties to support the network throughout the country. It has huge significance for all of our communities. The local post office is about maintaining communities throughout the country.