Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1766. To ask the Minister for Health the evidence that is available that demonstrates that the closing of hospitality at 8 pm reduces the number of Covid-19 deaths or the number of persons in intensive care units; and if he will consider allowing the hospitality sector to reopen for normal working hours. [1744/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The NPHET, in its letter of 16 December, recommended the early introduction of additional measures to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant while the booster programme advances, and its full impact can take effect.

While acknowledging that additional measures would impose a further burden on certain sectors and also on society more generally, the measures were intended to reduce the volume of social contacts, especially in higher risk settings which present super spreader opportunities and those that involve inter-household and intergenerational mixing. 

The range of measures recommended by NPHET included reduced opening hours for hospitality and the NPHET stated that "these reduced operating hours will significantly lessen the substantial volume of high-risk social contact taking place in these settings." The NPHET recognised that reduced opening hours would result in some element of displacement of socialisation into private households. However, this displacement was likely to result in substantially less social contact overall than would occur in restaurants and bars operating as they did prior to the introduction of the measure.

The NPHET is due to meet on 20 January to review the public health measures in place and will provide advice to the Government.

The NPHET letters outlining their recommendations to the Government can be found online