Lockdown Decisions
It is clear now that some of the measures adopted in response to COVID were unnecessary, some were ridiculous, some were inhumane, some had a long-lasting negative impact that outweighed any benefit, and it was clear at the time.
Overcrowding at UHL
Micheál Martin and his government failed the people of the Midwest by refusing to tackle the mounting problems at UHL. Leo Varadkar must now intervene.
I was shocked that the only proposal from the Government representative on today’s show was to call for mandatory face masks and “other restrictions”, and to call for young doctors and nurses to be forced to work in a chronically mismanaged health system.
€9.95m Approved For Theatre Upgrade At Ennis Hospital
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the HSE that a €9.95m capital budget allocation has been approved for a theatre upgrade at Ennis Hospital and that the project has already progressed to design stage.
Read MoreGovernment accepts motion on National Driving Licence Service offices
The Government has accepted a Private Members Motion seeking a reversal of the decision to downgrade National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) offices across the State.
Downgrade of NDLS offices
The Government says the temporary Covid downgrading of all National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) offices across the State has now been made permanent. A walk-in service is no longer available and a public services card is now needed to avail of the online service.
McNamara calls for more supports for domestic abuse support organisations
Independent Clare T.D. Michael McNamara has called for wider supports for domestic abuse support organisations in light of 2020 figures released to him and figures for 2021 highlighting an increase in the number of reports of domestic abuse in Ireland over the last 12 months.
Read MoreMcNamara pushes for tax-free bonus for qualifying frontline workers in Clare
Deputy Michael McNamara has requested the Government to enable employers to provide a €1,000 Covid bonus to qualifying employees without them or their employees incurring a tax liability.
Tax-free Bonus
I asked the Tánaiste if the Government will enable employers to provide a €1,000 Covid bonus to qualifying employees without them or their employees incurring a tax liability.
Cost of PCR testing
The unparalleled scale of PCR testing in Ireland – to the exclusion of antigen testing – has led to astronomical costs being incurred. Government must explain why we had so much, and such expensive, PCR testing and stalled antigen testing despite an expert report calling for it.
Article – THE SUN
Dept spend on Covid advertising
The Department of Education has spent almost half a million euro on COVID-19 advertising. The same spend would have delivered HEPA filter devices to over 1500 classrooms across Ireland.
Opposing extension of COVID-19 emergency powers
I opposed another extension of the COVID-19 emergency powers and the Government’s refusal to accept an amendment providing for democratic scrutiny of regulations made pursuant to those powers.
Health And Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill
I am not opposed to public health doctors giving public health advice. I am opposed to extending the abdication of government to an unelected and unaccountable body. It is undemocratic and unsafe.
Mandatory Hotel Quarantine
€24.7m was spent on Mandatory Hotel Quarantine, which detected 0.39% of all cases detected in the State during its period of operation. MHQ is a costly but largely futile measure to be seen to be doing something.
Stop blaming the public
It’s time for the Government to stop blaming the public, and instead start implementing measures to enable people to live more safely alongside Covid.
Covid passes and healthcare capacity
I asked for evidence that Covid passes have reduced transmission. I also pointed out the failure to address overcrowding in healthcare settings where the greatest number of clusters have taken place in the last 8 weeks.
Indoor spot for Under 18s
Following my correspondence with Sport Ireland, Basketball Ireland and the Government, I welcome the decision to address the issue of Under 18 games/competitions particularly for Basketball amongst other indoor sports. This has been amended so indoor games/competitions can take place for under 18s. Sport Ireland will shortly provide detail to sporting organisations.
Renewal of Covid-19 emergency powers
In outlining my opposition to yet another renewal of “emergency” powers on Covid 19, I explained how the Government has been reckless with people’s health.
Morning Ireland – Indoor hospitality
I spoke on Morning Ireland about the delay in publishing both the guidelines and regulations around indoor hospitality, and the difficulties this is creating for businesses and members of the public.
Indoor hospitality rules
With just one day to go before new rules around indoor hospitality come into effect, nobody yet knows what laws they are going to have to adhere to and businesses are not able to put appropriate plans in place.
International visitors to Ireland
The Government’s use of Dáil time today to tell us about reopening the tourism and aviation sectors never addressed the significant deterrents that exist for international tourists.
Future restrictions and healthcare capacity
Speaking to Pat Kenny I again raised the issue of how little capacity has been increased in our healthcare system despite the billions spent on our pandemic response. Full interview here.
Government proposes to extend emergency powers
I will be voting against the Government’s proposal to extend the emergency powers in respect of indoor hospitality.
Restrictions and hospital capacity
Only 19 additional critical care beds have been developed during the past 12 months (278 in Sep 2020, 297 in Aug 2021). Given the expected demand on our health system this winter, the failure to substantially increase capacity is worrying.
President concerned over volume of legislation received
The sole and exclusive power of making laws for the State is vested in the Oireachtas: that’s the point of independence. The Oireachtas needs to take its role seriously and do its job properly. It shouldn’t take a letter from the President to the Dáil and Seanad…
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/higgins-raises-concerns-over-volume-of-legislation-received-1.4634165
Limited capacity for Clare v Cork
I have requested Minister with responsibility for Sport, Deputy Jack Chambers to explain why capacity has been set at 500 for the Clare versus Cork game when the same venue hosted 3,000 spectators for the Munster Championship semi-final between Clare and Tipperary three weeks ago.
We’re aware of Delta but also that there will be further variants. Supporters are rightly annoyed especially given the match is only on Sky Sports.
TODAY FM Indoor hospitality
People should be able to “exercise their own judgement”. The more restrictions that are introduced, the more arbitrary they appear.
McNamara seeks improved ventilation in schools as Tanaiste suggests antigen tests being considered
The Taoiseach says the Government is considering the introduction of antigen testing to primary and secondary school settings in the autumn.
Leo Varadkar was responding today to a Dáil question by Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara who asked if ventilation would be improved in school buildings over the summer holidays to reduce the spread of Covid in classrooms and to negate the need for classroom windows to be kept open during the autumn and winter months.
Questioning the Tánaiste, Deputy McNamara asked, “Over the course of the summer are we going to introduce ventilation works to schools or are we going to have children returning to schools wearing coats and wearing masks in poorly ventilated buildings and freezing in the middle of an Irish winter with the windows open?”
Deputy McNamara also raised the potential for using stand-alone HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filter devices in classroom.
He added that an Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, set up by the Department of Health, said such devices “maybe useful in reducing airborne transmission in spaces with insufficient ventilation.”
In response, Leo Varadkar said the matter is under consideration by Government.
“We accept that schools will need better ventilation in September and October and the issue of CO2 monitors is part of that,” stated the Tánaiste.
He continued, “We have asked the Expert Group on Antigen Testing to advise us on applying antigen testing both to indoor hospitality and to schools when they reopen in September.”
Ventilation in schools
I asked the Tánaiste if ventilation will be improved in school buildings over the summer holidays.
Virgin Media – Indoor hospitality vote in Dáil Eireann
I spoke on The Tonight Show immediately following tonight’s Dáil vote on the legislation around reopening indoor hospitality.
Indoor hospitality proposals
Later tonight, I will be voting against the measures proposed by Government under the Health (Amendment) (No.2) Bill.
When does civil disobedience become legitimate
I asked the Taoiseach when he thought civil disobedience became legitimate if democracy is reduced to a tyranny of a narrow majority.
Proposed legislation for indoor hospitality
The proposed legislation on indoor hospitality is being rammed through the Dáil without proper debate. It sets our country on a slippery slope towards similar discrimination being extended to other aspects of society.
Indoor hospitality proposals
It becomes clearer that this is a coercive rather than protective measure. It also becomes more arbitrary in its discrimination.
Indoor air filtration
I pointed out that there would continue to be transmission of Covid-19 regardless of vaccinations and asked what was done and would be done by the Government to improve air filtration in light of Expert Group reports to the Department of Health in February and March.
Wasting taxpayers money on Convention Centre sittings
€1.8 million in taxpayers money has already been wasted sitting in the Convention Centre. I today called for the Dáil to be returned to Leinster House.
NPHET modelling
The need for international peer review of NPHET’s modelling, recommended in the Covid-19 Response Committee Report of 8 October 2020, has never been starker.
Antigen testing and air travel
Given the establishment of another task force on Shannon and the failure to implement previous reports on aviation and on antigen testing, I asked the Taoiseach who’s running the country and for whose benefit.
NPHET and Rapid Antigen Testing
NPHET’s confirmation that it hasn’t even discussed the Government-commissioned Report of the Covid Rapid Testing Group and its reluctance to accept the EU Commission’s common list of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests demonstrate an intent to maintain Ireland’s outlier position on international travel and antigen testing compared to other EU states.
Opposing the extension of Government’s emergency powers
I spoke against the Government’s bill to allow for the restrictions and lockdowns to be introduced until at least November with the possibility of a further extension thereafter.
Vote on emergency pandemic powers
Given the Government’s proposal to extend far reaching and extraordinary emergency pandemic powers, the least we could do is allow for it to be fully debated.
Opposing Mandatory Hotel Quarantining
Speaking against Mandatory Hotel Quarantining today, I acknowledged the threat posed by variants. However, the current system does little to combat that threat.
Opposing emergency legislation
I am voting against the proposed extension of emergency legislation because it allows for the restrictions to basic human rights and ordinary human activities to be rolled over indefinitely.
Clare FM – Voting against extension of Covid legislation
I will be voting in the Dáil against the proposal to further extend the extraordinary Government powers to shut down sections, or all , of our society and economy. The use and abuse of these powers has been particularly ruinous to our tourism and aviation sectors, including Shannon Airport.
Transatlantic Air Travel
I told Foreign Minister Simon Coveney that planes that flew from Shannon to North America were now based in Manchester and explained why the proposed reopening of the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland must be accompanied by transatlantic flights to and from Ireland.
Tánaiste on Mandatory Hotel Quarantine
When a Government knowingly breaches citizens’ rights because it’s politically expedient to do so, it loses the moral authority to compel people to adhere to the measures it adopts.
McNamara critical of Government’s Mandatory Hotel Quarantine strategy
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has criticised the Government’s Mandatory Hotel Quarantine strategy, which he described as “a half-baked exercise in optics” and a “flawed measure” in the context of an unchecked border with Northern Ireland and when the majority of persons arriving in the state whether by air, sea or over land are not tested for variants of Covid-19.
Read MorePenal provision relating to religious services
I asked the Taoiseach if the Health Minister would correct the record of the Dáil where he wrongly said there is no penal provision relating to religious services.
Vaccination Programme
Given that vaccine demand greatly exceeds current supply I questioned why the Government is prioritising people who, according to HIQA, the US CDC and scientists across the world, have an immunity from infection arising from having contracted and recovered from Covid (which can be verified with an antibody test).
Clare FM – The State’s response to Covid
The State’s response to Covid-19 must be less about arbitrary interference with people’s fundamental rights, and more focused on promoting public health and trusting people.
Penal provisions relating to religious services
Did Stephen Donnelly even read the regulations that he signed into law, which contained penal provisions relating to religious services? Now that priests are being fined, I am calling on him to correct the record of the Dáil.
Newstalk – Government abdicating decision-making to its advisers and civil servants
The problem is not the Deputy Chief Medical Officer – public health doctors worldwide are advising caution. The problem is a “government” abdicating decision-making to its advisers and civil servants, pushed out for daily press conferences instead of developing options to feed into a real strategy.
Read MoreRTÉ – We need a strategy to enable us to live with Covid
We need a strategy to enable us to live with Covid.
Interview on RTÉ Primetime – Tuesday, 16 March 2020.
Return To Education Declaration Form
I sought clarification from the Minister for Education Norma Foley about the text used on the Return to Educational Facility Parental Declaration Form that parents had to sign before their children returned to school.
Today FM – Living with Covid cannot be reduced to a Health v Wealth argument
Living with Covid cannot be reduced to a health versus wealth argument.
The rushed Health (Amendment) Bill
The Health (Amendment) Bill is being rushed to avoid scrutiny. We have been told that quarantine facilities will not be up and running for weeks regardless of whether the legislation is passed tomorrow or given more time for adequate scrutiny.
Read MoreNewstalk – Exiting Lockdown
We now know the UK Government’s strategy for exiting lockdown. In Ireland, we only have vague aspirations and no criteria for reopening any part of normal society.
Antigen Testing in Ireland
Antigen testing will be a key tool when Ireland begins to reopen, and the EU Commission, EU Health Committee and U.S. CDC have already promoted the useful role of such testing.
Clare FM – Lockdown Level 5
Government needs to plan for all eventualities because an indefinite lockdown throughout 2021 is not sustainable nor is any future return to lockdown.
Mainstream media coverage of Covid and impact on mental health
Some mainstream media coverage in Ireland is adding to the high levels of stress and anxiety amongst the population.
Rapid antigen tests
The Government must expand the use of rapid antigen tests, which can detect when people with COVID-19 are infectious as opposed to the detection of persons who are no longer infectious.
Role of Vitamin D in the fight against Covid
I am glad to note that over the past fortnight the Tánaiste has appraised himself of the considerable scientific research concerning the benefits of Vitamin D in the fight against Covid. Hopefully, this will lead to the government following the example of other European states in providing Vitamin D supplementation to vulnerable persons.
Inclusion of tourism providers and events companies under CRSS
I requested the Minister for Finance to include adventure / outdoor activity tourism providers and events companies under the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). The Minister said he will review the matter.
Vaccinating people who have contracted Covid
I asked the Minister for Health how many people who have contracted Covid have been vaccinated and whether it is proposed to vaccinate such people in light of the suggestion that they may enjoy some protection arising from their previous infection.
Essential Workers and Foreign Travel
Essential workers who recently contracted Covid but have since recovered and are no longer infectious are being unnecessarily prevented from travelling, as I explained to the Tánaiste today.
Unrestricted access to ROI via Northern Ireland
Testing at our airports while unrestricted access to Northern Ireland and across the border is maintained is like trying to keep the cold out of the house by closing all the windows but leaving the front door open.
Vitamin D supplements for vulnerable people
In light of the UK Government offering free vitamin D supplements to 2.7 million vulnerable people across England, I asked the Tánaiste if a similar initiative could be considered in Ireland.
Antigen testing, elderly in receipt of home care and the winter flu
I questioned the Health Minister about prioritising the vaccination of persons in receipt of home care and their carers; the winter flu; and rapid antigen detection tests.
Alternatives to some of the more idiotic Covid restrictions
Instead of some of the more idiotic #COVID19 restrictions, we should be empowering people to test themselves at home to reduce the transmission of COVID.
Use of rapid Covid-19 antigen tests
A rapid antigen test that people can do at home themselves offers huge potential benefits as an addition, not an alternative, to other measures.
Data on mental health in Ireland is inadequate
Data on mental health is inadequate. The HSE and Irish College of Psychiatrists need to explain why, given they receive taxpayers’ money to collect and collate it. Data on suicide is adequate because of the lack of a centralised coroners’ database, a shortcoming highlighted 20 years ago this month.
Banks refusing mortgages to persons employed under Wage Subsidy Scheme
Banks are refusing mortgages to persons employed under Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme. Up to now, the Government has insisted that these were sustainable jobs, temporarily affected, but now it seems this is no longer the Government’s position. Many of these jobs are in sectors shut down by the Government.
McNamara questions Education Minister about open windows in classrooms
Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare, has received confirmation from the Minister for Education that updated guidance has been issued to schools in relation to ventilation practices in the classroom.
Read MoreRTÉ – New Guidelines for Covid-19 Testing and Quarantine of Air Travellers
I spoke on Drivetime RTE about new Guidelines for Covid-19 Testing and Quarantine of Air Travellers, published jointly by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Nursing Home and Hospital Visitor Restrictions
The proposed practice of allowing only one visitor per week for those in nursing homes and hospitals needs to be reviewed, particularly given the possibility of screening to mitigate risk.
Publish The Data
As we are being told to follow the science, the science should be clear. That requires more transparency and publication of data, evidence and assumptions upon which modelling is based.
State’s response to COVID-19
I spoke in the Dáil debate on the final report of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response.
Newstalk – Beyond Lockdown
We need to deal with the challenges posed by Covid-19 in a manner that protects our vulnerable without jeopardising their future and that of a whole generation.
Rapid antigen testing vs PCR testing at airports
I raised the issue of testing at airports and NPHET’s insistence that only PCR testing is acceptable. Airports in other EU countries are using rapid antigen testing.
Irish economy to shrink by 22 percent
Ireland’s domestic economy is forecast to shrink by a massive 22% in 2020, by far the biggest contraction, according to the European Commission.
Airport testing
7 months after I first raised airport testing, it’s time to stop discussing options and start implementing solutions.
Lockdown based on NPHET predictions that have not come to pass
NPHET’s modelling upon which Government introduced this lockdown was clearly inaccurate. Due to the 3-week timelag for measures to take effect It’s clear people had modified their behaviour before the introduction of lockdown. Incidence was already falling. 55,000 needlessly out of work!
RTÉ Primetime interview about impact of lockdown on retailers
I spoke on RTÉ Primetime about the impact of Level 5 restrictions on retailers.
Health (Amendment) Bill
I explained to the Dáil today why I am opposing the Health (Amendment) Bill.
Opposing rolling over of restrictions
I spoke against the lockdown and the power to lockdown again and again until June at least.
Impact of lockdown on mental health
TDs are being asked to approve another lockdown without data on self-harm and suicide during the last lockdown. That is not good enough and must not be repeated.
Moving marts online
Closing marts and moving cattle sales online is counterproductive and ill-considered.
Clare FM – Lockdowns Must End
In four months nothing has changed. Now we’re told nothing will will change for another four months. Lockdowns must end.
CLARE FM – Reaction to Level 5 lockdown
A strategy of indefinitely going in and out of lockdown will not work.
RTÉ – Potential for further COVID restrictions
I spoke to Claire Byrne on RTÉ today about the potential introduction of further restrictions in Ireland.
RTÉ – Our economy cannot endure another sustained shutdown
Our economy cannot endure another sustained shutdown – RTÉ The Week In Politics
Rapid Turnaround Testing at Irish airports
I asked Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to provide an update on the progress made by Government on the introduction of a testing protocol at Irish airports and about what type of test system would be used.
Zero Covid island is neither realistic nor feasible
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney today outlined to me why a Zero Covid Island approach is neither realistic nor feasible.
Maternity hospital restrictions
Expectant mothers require the support of their partners at key moments of their pregnancy. Humanity must be retained in maternity hospitals restrictions.
Household Restrictions
The latest household restrictions will be counterproductive if put into law as they will undermine contact tracing.