Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

None of us wishes to be where we are. I appreciate what the Minister of State said about the renewal of this legislation. Necessarily, when we passed this Act into law earlier this year we included a sunset clause because we all hoped that there would be an end to this and it was recognised that there was a certain draconian element to the regulations that needed to be revised. We now recognise that the numbers are not where we would like them to be. I understand that the expert advice to Government is that this should be extended.

Without wishing to be overly melodramatic about it, it is with a heavy heart that we endorse the motion. We acknowledge that it is necessary, but I want to acknowledge the Minister of State had to say generally about licensing law. This is a matter I have discussed with the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I welcome the idea that we would examine reform of our licensing laws because the reality is that they are quite outdated in many respects. For a long time, I have felt that the more we treat people like children in respect of their use and access and alcohol, the more they are likely to behave like children. It is important that we revise the systems that are in place. We should say to people that they are adults and citizens and they have the right to do as they please, but they must also take into account the effects of certain behaviour and, for example, the abuse or overuse of alcohol.

When it comes to pubs all emptying out onto the streets at the same time, restricted access to the purchase of off-licence alcohol after 10 p.m. and minimum unit alcohol pricing, I recognise the policy basis for these decisions and the reason these rules are in place. I recognise that there is an academic basis that supports and underpins them, but I do not agree with them. We need to approach this from a different angle. We need to say to people that they are adults and citizens and they must take responsibility for their behaviour in the same way as anyone else and that extends to alcohol. We should start with an education programme from the point at which children are at school before they are legally entitled to drink. We should teach them the dangers associated with alcohol, the effects of alcohol and the pitfalls that come with its use and consumption.

That equally applies to this motion because there is also an element of personal responsibility in people's behaviour in the pandemic regarding the restrictions that none of us want to see in place but that we also recognise are necessary to protect everyone. It is tremendously important to acknowledge that we have made great progress in vaccination and that we stand very high in the tables of the vaccination programmes across Europe and the world. That can be seen that result in the figures even though they are elevated and, in many respect, inexplicably high. Those who are in ICU and in our hospitals and those who are, regrettably, unfortunately and tragically dying from Covid, are much more disproportionately in groups that are not or cannot be vaccinated than they are in those who have been vaccinated.

The element of personal responsibility must ultimately prevail, but I also recognise the need for Government to renew these regulations. For that reason, the Fine Gael group will support the motion. I would like to make one other comment in respect of vaccination because there has been talk in this Chamber and other political chambers about the approach of the Government to vaccination, particularly the use of vaccine certificates. As elected representatives and people who must have at the heart of their concerns the public good and the safety of the population as a whole, we should send out the message, first and foremost, that the vaccines work. People do not have to take our word for that because the figures and research show it clearly in terms of the numbers of people who are ill or in hospital. There is a good policy reason, however difficult or unpalatable it might, why the vaccination certificates are being used.These regulations need to be renewed. It is not to penalise any group. God knows all of us have received emails in a certain tone suggesting there has been segregation. I have seen words such as "apartheid" used. Such words are totally misplaced and inappropriate. There is no desire to segregate society but those who choose not to be vaccinated and those who choose not to follow regulations must also accept that consequences flow from that for them personally.

The most difficult category, however, is those who cannot be vaccinated for a medical or other reason. They are in a very difficult position. There are others who choose not to be vaccinated and who contact my office and say they cannot eat indoors with their friends because they have decided not to be vaccinated. I do not recognise the primacy of that choice. I do not recognise the parity of that choice with those who cannot be vaccinated. It is important to make that distinction. It is not an attempt to separate or segregate people; it is an attempt to safeguard everyone. The same policy underpins this motion and that is why we will be supporting it.