Mattie McGrath: Says Pub Restrictions 'Tread on the Constitution'
Mattie McGrath challenged government COVID-19 restrictions, arguing they "tread on the Constitution" by targeting pubs, dance schools and the arts. He said many pubs that adapted with food preparation under HSE guidance have been summarily dismissed and told they cannot operate under Level 3.
Constitutional concern
The speaker warned the Constitution is a "sacred document" and accused decision-makers of being custodians who are instead "walking and treading on the Constitution" through actions he described as effectively destroying the pub industry, the dance industry and the arts industry.
Pubs' adaptations and exclusions
He noted that many pubs made huge efforts during the previous lockdown to establish food preparation areas and to follow guidance from the HSE and HACCP, but said those establishments have been "summarily dismissed" and now told they cannot operate under Level 3, accusing authorities of changing the goalposts.
Taoiseach's public health response
The Taoiseach replied that the virus kills people and cited that "3,000 people on the island of Ireland have died" as a result, stressing public health as the government's motivation. He said evidence links pubs to the spread of the virus in certain local areas, and that supports have been provided to pubs "in an unprecedented way" to help them through a very difficult situation.
Political tone and consequences
The exchange included direct questions — "what have you got against the pubs, what have you got against the athletes and the dancing schools" — and a rebuke that it is wrong to play politics with a matter of life and death. The Taoiseach warned that divisiveness does not help the overall effort to deal with the crisis and acknowledged the hardship faced by publicans.
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The Constitution is meant to be a sacred document and we are meant to be custodians of it. By your actions and the actions advised by an effort of destroying the pub industry, the dance industry, the arts industry, you really are walking and treading on the Constitution. I ask again when I see the reports last night about so-called horribly named wet pubs, whoever gave them that name I don't know, many of them made huge efforts during the last outbreak of the lockdown to have food prepared and food preparation areas in their pubs and get food brought in. Under guidance from the HSE, it helped more than the HSE and everybody else and HACCP. Now they have been summarily dismissed and they have been told they can't operate now under this level 3. You are changing the goalposts all the time. I want you to get real and tell us what have you got against the pubs, what have you got against the athletes and the dancing schools. It is totally illogical what you are doing and it is going to fail and you are the only person around here that needs a reality dose, I think. Taoiseach. Mind you, this virus kills people. 3,000 people on the island of Ireland have died as a result of this virus and many more have been badly damaged in terms of long term health impacts. That is the only motivation for government to do what it is doing and it is wrong of you deputy to play politics with it by asking the rhetorical question, what have you against pubs? I have absolutely nothing against pubs. Don't be so silly for God's sake. It is too serious an issue. It is too serious an issue to reduce it to that. It is too serious an issue because lives are at stake here. And the reason for this, the reason for this is a public health reason and evidence was garnered, unfortunately, that does connect, unfortunately does connect pubs to the spread of the virus in certain locations, certain local areas. It is all documented, unfortunately. No one more than myself would love to have pubs open because they are a vital part of economic life up and down the country. Thank you Taoiseach. Time is up. I think that has to be said. That type of divisiveness does not help our overall effort to deal with the crisis. That is why we have provided supports to the pubs in an unprecedented way to try and help them through what is for them a very difficult and challenging situation. I accept that. It is very difficult for our publicans. Thank you.
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