Deputy Mary Lou McDonald- speech from 13 Jul 2021

Well thank you Cairn Comhairle, it's very clear that the full reopening of the hospitality sector and the safe reopening of the hospitality sector is urgent so that businesses can open, so that workers can get back to work and so that people can interact socially once again but Taoiseach instead of a taught out orderly plan to make this happen we have once again a last minute scramble from the three parties of government to produce legislation which is discriminatory, which is ill thought out and which many will regard as unenforceable and you will force this legislation through this house with very very limited debate and that is wrong Taoiseach. I cannot understand why the issue of testing, PCR testing and antigen testing as a mechanism and a tool along with proper and effective infection control, why that is again being kicked down, that can is being kicked down the road. What we need Taoiseach is a plan to include everyone, not a plan to exclude some, that is fundamentally wrong and flawed and it's wrong to force it through in this rushed manner. Taoiseach. I just have to say regrettably Deputy that since this government was formed on the issue of Covid and government policy pertaining to Covid, you and your party have decided to take a divided and divisive approach. An incoherent approach, an inconsistent approach, whatever way the wind blows, you take that course, you are taking a tiger dog have approach, hunting with the hound and running with the hare, whichever way. Whichever way. And it's all about votes. How do I exploit the issue today? How do I exploit Covid next week? You are not solution driven, you are not solution oriented, it's all about exploitation for electoral gain. That is the only and sole criterion that you use in your assessment of whatever government initiative. I propose to answer any questions rather than making attack points against members of the opposition. Sometimes you are for the opening of hospitality. A month later you are for zero Covid. That would be a refreshing change. And other times you are for anybody can travel into the country, other times you want mandatory hotel quarantining. I did actually put a question to you. Time you got off the fence, Deputy. Do you want hospitality to open or not? Thank you, Deputy. The time is open. You can deal accordingly with the plans that the Government has put before you to do it safely. And the reason the testing isn't there is that public health advice is clear. We are following public health advice in respect of vaccination and non-vaccination. You know that, of course.