In Kilgarvan they are fairly concerned about it.

In the past three months, this pandemic has claimed the lives of nearly 2,200 people on this island. It is with their families and friends that our first thoughts must be today and we must also remember the nearly 40 people who are in intensive care units today because of Covid-19. The progress of the disease in Ireland has been severe, and in some areas it has been worse than in most comparable countries. An unprecedented and rapidly evolving public health emergency leads to mistakes being made, and there is no qu…

There are issues with how we assemble as a Dáil. We need to have a deeper look at this in the context of the public health advice. The Ceann Comhairle sent a letter, helpfully-----

The Ceann Comhairle forwarded to us a helpful letter from Professor Cormican last week.

That will be a study in itself in years to come by politicians and public health students - you name it - because it is a masterpiece of writing.

I refer in particular to the last part, in which the professor reminded us he had always understood that it was we who set the rules for him, rather than he setting the rules for us, but the correspondence was striking. It stated there was no public health advice anywhere that suggested a two-hour limit for meetings but rather that it was an issue of contact tracing, which the professor then described as a rule of thumb that public health officials had put together. I respectfully suggest there are issues with that…

As we near the end of the third month of the Covid-19 pandemic, we must never forget to remember the great impact it has had. As of today, well over 2,000 people on this island have lost their lives. Hundreds are still fighting the virus and there is absolutely no doubt that things could have been much worse without the severe action which has been taken here and throughout the world. As I have said every week during these debates, mistakes are inevitable when we have a fast-moving and unprecedented emergency. The …

The centre in Boyle is an example of what the Deputy is saying.

Over nearly three months now more than 2,000 people have lost their lives on this island as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our first thoughts today must be with their friends and loved ones as well as those who are still fighting the virus. It is almost too terrible to contemplate what would have happened if we, as a society, had ignored the threat and carried on as normal. There is no question that our hospitals would have been overwhelmed and that many people who have successfully recovered from or avoided th…

As of this week, 1,500 people in the Republic and close to 450 in Northern Ireland have lost their lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As the Taoiseach has said, our first thoughts must be with them, their families and those who are today still struggling to overcome the virus. It remains a serious threat and there is no basis whatsoever for arguing for a rapid lifting of all restrictions. There are, however, significant questions to be asked about actions on particular issues. The restarting of basic parliamentary…

It was an impressive stream of consciousness.

In just over two months, 1,375 people in our country have lost their lives during this pandemic. Our first thoughts must continue to be with their families and loved ones, and indeed with those who are today fighting with the virus. There is no question that our absolute priority must be to continue to limit the spread and fatal impact of Covid-19 and that this work will continue for some time. During this session, there will be many hard questions asked concerning the Government's actions. That is exactly as it sh…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Ní neart go cur le chéile. Is í an bhrí atá leis an seanfhocal seo ná an bhrí atá i gcroílár an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tá géarghá ann le comhoibriú den scoth idir baill an Aontais a fheiceáil chun déileáil leis an gcoróinvíreas agus leis an ngéarchéim gheilleagair a bhaineann leis. Is léir go bhfuilimid i bhfad níos láidre ag obair le chéile ach is léir freisin go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó le déanamh ag an Aontas Eorpach, go háirithe maidir leis an dúshlán ollmhór atá amach romhai…

How much time do I have?

Deputy Boyd Barrett is informing me as to how to ask a question. I will return the serve later.

The decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court is not definitive in terms of European legal jurisprudence, I would suspect. The ECB may yet have an escape route, so to speak. However, this does reveal a mindset consistent with an ongoing divide. Some see a collective approach to crisis, be it the financial crisis or in this context of a global pandemic, from European institutions. They believe that the ECB is independent and that we do need a collective response either through a coronabond or through finan…

The Taoiseach is first.

Thanks for clarifying that I am making a statement.

Ar dtús báire, déanaim comhbhrón le teaghlaigh gach aon duine a fuair bás de dheasca an choróinvíris. Is géarchéim uafásach í seo ó thaobh cúrsaí sláinte de agus, gan amhras, ó thaobh geilleagair na tíre chomh maith. Tá an-chuid daoine dífhostaithe agus is léir go mbeidh dúshlán ollmhór romhainn amach sa todhchaí. Táimid fíorbhuíoch de gach aon duine atá ag obair sna seirbhísí sláinte agus sna seirbhísí eile a bhfuil tábhacht faoi leith ag baint leo, mar shampla, siopaí agus monarchana éagsúla. An rud is tábhachtaí…

They may be.