Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the comments by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Friday to look again at the restrictions based on the NPHET advice due to be relayed to the Government today. The people have endured so much over the last 22 months. They need to look forward now with hope to an easing of restrictions of all kinds over the coming months, starting with whatever decisions the Cabinet makes tomorrow. I welcome the positivity the three leaders have expressed in the media over the last number of days that the people can get back a sense of hope and freedom in the coming weeks and months, given the Omicron variant tends to be less impactful, as well as the success of the vaccination and booster campaigns over the last number of months. This all leaves us in good stead with respect to reopening.

I welcome also the €1,000 tax-free Covid recognition payment that is to be made to front-line health workers, especially those who have endured difficult periods in our emergency settings over that last number of years caring for people who have suffered with Covid, who are suffering with it or who have unfortunately passed away from it. The payment is due recognition of the difficult job front-line workers within healthcare settings had to endure over the last number of years. It is a positive recognition of their work. I think especially of nursing staff, some of whom are perhaps nearing retirement and have suffered a huge level of near-burnout. Some are considering early retirement due to the level of pressure of work and stress they have endured over the last number of years. It is therefore important recognition.

I welcome also the confirmation yesterday of a public holiday next year for St. Brigid's Day and also the additional public holiday this year for a long St. Patrick's Day weekend. Hopefully, it will be the first St. Patrick's Day in three years that can be fully celebrated by Irish people at home and across the world. I hope we will see the full range of diplomatic visits by Ministers and ambassadors across Europe and in capital cities and other cities around the world. I hope there will be a full reprise of the proud Irish role of celebrating St. Patrick and all that is positive about this country across the world and celebrating with our diaspora.