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THE OIREACHTAS HEALTH Committee has voted to waive pre-legislative scrutiny of the indoor dining bill by eight votes to six, despite strong concerns voiced by the opposition.
The government last night announced plans for the return of indoor dining and said it envisaged that the legislation will come into force sometime next week “hopefully before the weekend”.
This would require that the legislation be passed by the Dáil and the Seanad this week and then be signed by the President before it can come into effect.
The allow this timeline to be kept, pre-legislative scrutiny of the bill needed to be waived and the Health Committee voted this afternoon to approve this despite opposition by all of the opposition members.
Government parties have a majority on the Health Committee.
Sinn Féin member of the committee David Cullinane TD tweeted that the legislation was “rushed” and “unworkable”.
“The re-opening of hospitality needs to happen safely and for all. Instead we have a plan that is discriminatory, divisive unworkable,” he said.
The across-the-board opposition to the proposals was displayed this morning with the Labour Party, People Before Profit and the Rural Independents Group all outlining concerns about the indoor dining legislation on the Leinster House Plinth.
Labour leader Alan Kelly said that the legislation was “full of holes” and that his party would only support it if amendments the party is bringing forward were accepted by government.
Kelly said that his party wants what he described as “discrimination” removed from the legislation and that antigen tests should be part of the reopening of hospitality “now” and not at a point in the future as is provided for in the legislation
“I can’t fathom why a government would actually go down this road, with an unenforceable, unworkable discriminatory piece of legislation,” Kelly said.
It would be far easier to use the Covid Travel Cert as the mechanism by which you open up indoor dining and hospitality and also to use proven testing techniques, PCR and antigen testing, along with other techniques when it comes to ventilation, in order to ensure that every citizen has an equal right to be able to enjoy the dining experience.
The Rural Independent Group of TDs calls indoor dining laws “draconian and bizarre” with Michael Healy-Rae saying that “a society divided” was being created.
Healy-Rae also said that the legislation is being “rushed at an alarming rate over the next 72 hours”.
“We have a hospitality sector which I desperately want to see open, I want to see it opened in a safe way, but what is being proposed here certainly is a cause of great concern,” he said.
Healy-Rae raised concerns about additional burdens being placed on restaurateurs and publicans, adding that many have large premises that would allow for social distancing.
Speaking to reporters, publican and TD Danny Healy-Rae declined twice to say if he’ll check the vaccination status of patrons entering his pub if the legislation comes in.
“I won’t say until I see legislation as it’s presented. I have hundreds of emails and letters and phone calls asking us not to vote for this because it is a violation of a person’s right to confidentiality and medical status,” he said.
People Before Profit have also voiced opposition to the legislation with deputies describing it as “extremely problematic”.
Paul Murphy TD also raise concerns about “discrimination” but also said that there is a risk to young unvaccinated hospitality workers due to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
He said that these concerns together meant it was “crazy” that the government wanted the legislation passed this week.
“We’re in a really crazy situation where, in the final week of the Dáil, the government is attempting to ram and rush through legislation that is unprecedented, which raises questions of discrimination, which raises all sorts of ethical concerns in terms of health surveillance and yet the government is determined to get this through this week, this is an extremely problematic approach by the government.”
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Looks like he hasn’t quite mastered the mask.
@Brian Lilly: the cap affects the masks counter balance
@Brian Lilly: he’s outside. Many people still keep it on outside but have it below their nose. However Eamon Ryan uses his face mask to clean his glasses https://www.independent.ie/videos/eamon-ryan-cleans-glasses-with-face-mask-on-claire-byrne-40601617.html
@AnnaAnna.: It’s that he does it so casually, suggests to me this is his main method for cleaning his glasses.
@Brian Lilly: does he ever tire of moaning?
@Neil Neart: he should be posting on the journal….or maybe he is…..anonymously.
@Brian Lilly: slot of people doing this, it drives me crazy
@Brian Lilly: curehoors are scent animals.
NO to discrimination.
@Tac: Keep them all closed until everyone can use them! Better everyone in misery than all the vaccinated being able to eat indoors!
@Tac: . You will not be going to pub then?
@John McG: So John you think that the vaccinated should be allowed in and the rest of us should be kept in misery, where would you like us to be kept, in a concentration camp perhaps, I choose not to be part of an experimental jab and it is wrong for anyone to discriminate against people who make that choice.
@Tac: As long as you’re outside, I’ll happily dine inside
@Bennett blaster: To be honest i do prefer it outside anyway. And i think you would be happy to keep us all in a concentration camp too am i right ? Another question what about the toliets can we use the same as vaccinated or must we use a different toliet.
@Tac: and censorship.
@Tac: Exactly I dine inside I go to a toilet and meet someone who has to dine outside. What then:) the ridiculousness of the situation is beyond words.
@Tac: wow. Equating not being able to go into a pub with being in a concentration camp. Did ya ever hear of Godwin’s Law?
@Philip Howlin: all the pubs are nearly opened in Tipperary and lowest covid cases of all of Ireland in the last 2 weeks
@Tac: but that is your choice. And this is the consequence of your choice.
@Tac: your choice as long as you accept the consequences, which you aren’t as you’re moaning about it.
@David Stapleton: Yes, so take the experimental jab are You will face the consequences, said like a good little SS man.
@Tac: so now you’re calling yourself a little SS man. I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself. You’re scared, and not well read – I can see that from your comments, but you don’t have to stay that way.
@Tac: You are not Rosa Parks. You are a c0wardly little man who hides behind anonymity and compares humanity’s darkest atrocities that resulted in millions of deaths to not being able to be in a pub as a consequence of your own decisions. Crawl back under that rock and never post in this comments section again until you grow up.
@David Stapleton: David not so my friend but i will not be posting here on journel again they delete my comments, change my spelling and add words, when i post they put it as a reply to someone else not all the time but sometimes i wish the best to everyone but now im just gonna focus on those around me, today also my fb account got taken down all cause im against that jab, I did screenshot all comments before and after so i will see what i can do with that.
@Paul Cunningham: You are a very na-sty individual and not just with this person. I’ve noticed every comment you make is usually confrontational and rude. Maybe take your own advice a few days under a stone might calm you down. By the way it’s not up to you who posts in these comments If you are unhappy don’t read them.
The legislation is going to be rammed through the Dail with zero debate or zero amendments having taken place. This is not the way a democracy works.
The measures were created by NPHET who gave them to the govt who them put them into a bill and are going to force them through the house because they want to go on holidays. There is zero scientific evidence backing up these measures. There are holes and conflicting with other measures like how a restaurant in a hotel is ok and safe for vaccinated and unvaccinated. There is no debate on any of this and it goes against what the EU and the WHO are recommending. Talking about making a pigs dinner of it.
Far too many unanswered questions. The issue is NPHET will not be made answer these queries. They came up with the whole idea and it’s not being scrutinised. Ah ya but aren’t NPHET just advisors, well it’s their idea so let them explain their thing backed up by science, people deserve answers. It’s not good enough anymore.
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: Yawn. You want to starve people in hotels? Of course there is risk in hotels but only small numbers impacted compared to opening pubs indoors.
Government are being decisive. Nothing to do with ramming anything. It’s called governing rather than moaning.
Choice is simple, open for vaccinated or stay closed for all. There should be a vaccine bonus. This is it.
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: aww will ya give over and go out (or in) and get a sambo and a pint. Relax.
I’m sure there are plenty images of Michael Healy wearing the mask properly… but the Journal chooses this one ! If it was Leo it would be putting up a perfect picture of him fully masked and looking smart !
@Max Power: in fairness I rarely see Varadkar wearing a mask.
@Franny Ando: any
If the vaccine protects people as touted by government and NEPHET why discriminate in access to restaurants. Young healthy people who may not be vaccinated if they get covid are according to the known data very unlikely to get sick enough to go to hospital and therefore put no additional pressure on our health system. So these new rules being made law make a mockery out of the whole vaccination process and if common sense is used to look at the whole lockdown as now exists it defies logic and is becoming farcical and this is the civil service and government that are supposedly smart competent people. My trust in good government is now zero
The main opposition party not have anything to say? Or do they and their voters not count?
@MF: plenty of reports and coverage of all the opposition views in other media, the journal never provides full and balanced articles on anything, sometimes they dont cover a story at all, but dont let that get in the way of your rant.
@MF: probably hiding in the bunker,what they do best, wait till decisions are made and then shout the loudest.
@MF: . If legislation is passed and enacted, will they and their supporters stay away from pubs?
@Daniel Roche: Hilarious bunker comment, you should become a comedian, The Times reported what SF said over 5 hrs ago, maybe it was too early for you. Gas ye want the opposition to Govern but not be in Government. Sure now I should post some comments about FG have actually done while in power, like the NCH fiasco and the Housing Crisis.
@Da Dell: genuine question Dell, do you have any links to SF comments on it? It does look as though they are up to their usual tricks and seeing what way the wind is blowing before commenting. They’re either with the hospitality sector and want to get things open safely ASAP or they’re not. Which is it?
@GrumpyAulFella: are you not able to look at any other media…
I read the article below this morning when I started work
I not answering your simple ? for SF, I’ll answer for myself, personally indoors should have reopened already with no restrictions. And at the very least it should be already opened to those with a vaccine or negative pcr or antigen test for months.
@GrumpyAulFella: Check Rte news Independent and Irish Times.
@GrumpyAulFella: Genuine question, how do you think all the great planning by the Gov caused the ‘miss understanding’ that GP’s would have a role in issuing Covid recovery certs ?
@MF: There’s plenty being said by all opposition parties.
The best source is here:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/oireachtas-tv-channel/
@GrumpyAulFella:
Have a look yourself
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/oireachtas-tv-channel/
@Da Dell: ah it’s ok and as expected. Cullinane saying that he finds it confusing, clearly not fully supporting it but not objecting to it either. On the fence and afraid to offend any Shinner voters who may have a genuine view one way or the other. I’m waiting to see his alternative not so confusing proposal. Perhaps he hasn’t quite grasped that it’s extremely complex logistical matter.
@Franny Ando: I did. The sound bytes from Culliane can be summed up as “confusing” and “not going to work”. Nothing constructive so far, no alternative proposals and I’m none the wiser as to whether SF wish to further postpone the opening of indoor dining or not. Maybe you and Dell have found out more since but I’ve seen anything constructive from the Shinners.
@GrumpyAulFella: Whatever Grumpy, you keep up the deflection to the opposition, its all the Gov and particular FG have left, anything to distract from their disastrous time actually in Government.
The original post said there was nothing from the opposition when there was.
Gas you want the opposition to not oppose but govern and but also not be in Gov.
Yeah its the opposition’s fault we have so much debt, the NCH fiasco, the housing crisis, the miss-handling of the pandemic.
Its quite apparent, not just a perhaps that the Gov haven’t grasped the situation either and have not had in place proper planning and contingency measures except muddling from one thing to another after the fact just about to fin work now and head for a few pints unrestricted indoors as i be doing since May 31st.
@Da Dell: yeah but Dell you keep forgetting that I’m not a govt supporter. I think the complexity of this is beyond SF. Cullinane is clearly out of his depth, to the extend that he makes the Healy-Raes sound semi-competent. Look it’s fine, if SF can’t decide whether they’re supporting hospitality or not then the electorate will see through that. Thank God they’re not on the Govt benches. Could you imagine Cullinane trying to manage this one? Jayssis. I’d rather have Danny Healy-Rae with his guitar and squeeze box calling the shots.
@Daniel Roche: Seems your memory has failed. You conveniently fail to mention FF/FG stated they would not talk to Sinn Fein concerning the formation of a government. FFG were quite willing to enter coalition to preserve the status quo. Your memory is on par with the part time Taoisach Martin when he stated there was no bank bailout.
@Donal Desmond: No such entity as FFG no matter how many times you and sf regurgitate it. SF could have formed a MINORITY government. Ran for the cosy hills! Everyone saw that too.
Micheál just announced we can like it or lump it regarding the new legislation, oh wow, did u hear that people of Ireland, this is his country u just live in it, next election I know what u and fianna fail will be getting on board with, annihilation at the polls
@Hugo Bugo: no he didn’t. Maybe he should have though
@Hugo Bugo: I don’t think he said that if you read the report. Were you expecting a multiple choice questionnaire to drop through your door so that you could indicate your preferences for a conditional reopening of indoor dining?
This legislation is not only discriminatory, it is also illegal.
We should not be accepting this as a society.
Once again Ireland violating EU law but also an EU resolution that was passed in January, let alone our own constitution.
Migle D will show his true colours (as if we don’t already know) if he signs off on this bill.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2021-000724_EN.html
People have the choice to attend establishments and provide information or not if this proposal does not suit them. Indoor hospitality needs to open and we have to start somewhere. Far preferable to the reckless cavalier free for all being pushed in the giant Petri dish that is currently England
@The Mrs O’B: How so? where’s the data? Denmark opened up and deaths have been are fairly flat.
All those against this legislation will not be going to pubs and restaurants.
Could you not have used ANY other politician as the image? As if we don’t have to see the Healy-Rae’s often enough already.
@Gerard: How about Mattie?
@Gerard: perhaps it’s because he isn’t using the mask properly.
The nose over the mask say it all
Absolutely Baffling – 18-34s, many of us whom have been waiting patiently for our vaccines (and would have taken it months ago if we could have) are yet again being discriminated against. First, people going on holidays whilst we wait and now the pub! It’s utterly bonkers.
@James Kelly-Vernon: boo hoo.
Remember it’s a virus that is the enemy
Well Iif the Healy-Rae’s . . . . . .
@Bala mc blaha: The hypocrisy… one week he is bleating about end of the hospitality sector, now he doesn’t want to increase the options to open. He must have the busiest beer garden and doesn’t want to lose a few quid. And ye thought is was health reasons he was concerned about……
The noes have it! The noes have it!!
Baffling when 18-34s haven’t even had the chance to get the vaccine, even though many of us have wanted it since day one! So, because of the government’s incompetence in rolling the vaccine out, we are discriminated against. Same thing with International travel it’s absolutely Bonkers.
@James Kelly-Vernon: Contrary to your assertion, the rollout is going very well. Getting sufficient quantities of vaccines into the country from the pharma is the issue.
Healy rea’s have Kerry sow up haha ,,,,,
Cant get his mask up properly and worrying about his own pubs… totally useless that guy who only thinks about his family thats it!
Talk about making a Dog’s meal of it !!!!!
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