Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2020-03-20
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

As regards dentists, I gave a commitment yesterday that my Department would make contact which it did. I think there is a meeting scheduled for Monday with the Irish Dental Association. It is important that they engage on this and get clarity on all the issues, which they need.
As to the issue of detention, the Senator will know this is very much a public health Bill. We will be taking a health-led approach. We will hope never to have to use these powers, and if we do have to detain someone it would be for the purpose of protecting that person's health but crucially for the purpose of reducing the spread of the virus. We would be envisaging it in a health setting. The Senator has made some important suggestions regarding the Prison Service and the likes. The Government will examine those and revert to the Senator.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2020-03-20/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:47:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-03-20