Seanad debates

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

10:30 am

Photo of Lorraine Clifford-LeeLorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Rabbitte is an excellent Minister of State. She is able, qualified and empowered under her seal of office to come in here and take amendments on health legislation. The Senator's comments are completely uncalled for. Of course the senior Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has interest in this legislation. The Minister has been in here on several occasions to discuss this matter and engage with Senators. To say that the Minister is not showing respect and only sending the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is, to be honest, deplorable.

On the Government party numbers, we have Senators here from the Government parties. I note that there are not any Senators from the Independent Group here with Senator Keogan to discuss her amendments. Senator Keogan is the only one here.

The Taoiseach said last night on the news that the schools will not be closing early. If journalists want to speculate, that is fine. Nobody in this House would say that the Government should be silencing journalists, particularly in a free and open democracy. People can talk. Politicians can talk and speculate, members of the public can speculate and journalists can legitimately report on that speculation, but the man in charge of this country and the Government is the Taoiseach and he said last night clearly that the schools will not be closing. I do not know how we can be clearer than that.

The certainty that businesses have been afforded is that the financial supports will continue and that has been greatly welcomed by the particularly badly affected industries. I know many who work in the hospitality industry and have businesses themselves. I understand the difficult situation they are in but, thankfully, the Government has responded to that. They want to protect their patrons, employees and family members as much as anybody else.

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