Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join the Acting Chairperson in extending my sympathies to our colleague, Senator Fitzpatrick, on the death of her father and our former colleague, Dr. Dermot Fitzpatrick. It is a sad time for her and all her family.

Last Sunday, I was in Ennis watching the re-emergence of the great Meath football team and I thought to myself, God, the last time I was in Ennis was two years ago when the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, made his address from Blair House. I reflected on how the world has changed in that period. As I sat in the stadium last Sunday, I thought about how great it is to be back in football stadiums enjoying moments like this and doing normal things again. However, the coverage on the radio this morning of the warnings from the HSE chief operations officer, Ms Ann O'Connor, brought us all back to reality if we were not there already. At 8 a.m. this morning, there were 1,425 Covid-19 patients in our hospitals. The most frightening thing was the advice from the HSE to hospitals in respect of cancelling elective procedures. We already saw the backlog that arose from the last two years. We cannot have this again. We need swift action from the Government in this respect.

I welcome that fact that statements have been made on the establishment of a new advisory council and the swift action in this regard. Having emerged from this period of prolonged lockdown, we cannot see regression and a reversal. We have already seen consumer sentiment damaged because of the war in Ukraine. We certainly do not need to see any more damage to our economy because of another regression towards lockdown. That leaves aside any of the impact in terms of mental health as well. I ask the Acting Leader to confirm that we will have swift action from the Government in this respect. We should take the warnings from Ms O'Connor this morning very gravely.