Varadkar: ‘We can’t but we can slow it
IRELAND cannot stop coronavirus but the nation can work together to ‘slow it in its tracks’, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
Mr Varadkar made the comment as a major debate on emergency legislation to deal with the Covid-19 crisis takes place in the Dáil.
The Omnibus Bill details measures that aim to prevent evictions and introduce a rent freeze throughout the health crisis.
The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill will address resources within six departments, including housing and health.
The legislation before the Oireachtas aims to protect tenants and includes a €3.7billion aid package that will see the Government contribute to wage packets.
The emergency measures are part of a major effort by the Government to mitigate the social effects of Covid-19 and the economic consequences of the virus.
The Dáil also agreed on Thursday to pause business at 8pm to applaud health workers following a request from the Health Service Executive.
A reduced number of TDs sat in the Dáil throughout proceedings and followed the social-distancing advice by sitting two seats apart.
Mr Varadkar said the emergency legislation is a response to an ‘unprecedented emergency’.
Speaking in the Dáil, the Taoiseach said: ‘Unfortunately, we cannot stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.
‘Our national objective must be to flatten the curve. We can succeed if everyone takes sustained action. Nothing less will do.’
Mr Varadkar said the amount of time spent planning for Brexit means they are in a better position to deal with major changes.
He added: ‘The work spent thinking about supply lines, about the impact of a shock to the economy, the money we set aside through prudent management of our finances – all of this is now being deployed against a different kind of national threat.’
He added: ‘Today’s legislation, to last for the duration of the emergency, will freeze rents, prevent evictions and make it easier for healthcare professionals to reregister and return to work and also enable former members of the Defence Forces to rejoin at the ranks they left.
‘The truth is, these are extraordinary times.’
Yesterday, a further 255 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the Republic.
Ten more patients who tested positive for Covid-19 died, bringing the State’s total to 19 deaths. In total, 1,819 people have been confirmed as having coronavirus in Ireland.
During yesterday’s debate, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the people of Ireland continue to face real fear and uncertainty.
Speaking in the Dáil, he added: ‘To an extent never seen before, people are subject to major personal restrictions which limit their ability to mix with others, look after family members and go to work. The measures which we adopted last week and those which we are adopting today are not ones that we would even discuss in normal circumstances.
‘But clearly, this unprecedented situation has justified, and will continue to justify, an unprecedented response.’
‘We should ramp up public housing’
Mr Martin said Ireland needs a government ‘which can discuss and implement an urgent recovery plan’. He called for ‘some form of social partnership model’.
He added: ‘I believe we need a government which can discuss and implement an urgent recovery plan. In doing this, we should certainly look at the introduction of some form of social partnership model.
‘This should involve key stakeholders so that there can be real engagement and a true societal response to what will be a plan for our national recovery post-Covid-19.’
TDs raised concerns about shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health staff.
Their comments came after
Dr Colm Henry, HSE chief clinical officer, said the executive had been facing challenges securing PPE in a ‘very competitive global market’.
Concerns around safety on construction sites were also raised as some workers struggle to abide by social-distancing rules.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan told the Dáil that the chief executive of the HSE, Paul Reid, told him during a meeting that they did more in a week to move towards Sláintecare than they would normally do within a year.
Mr Ryan said the resources being pumped into healthcare was an opportunity to invest in the system ‘in every aspect’.
He added: ‘At a time of this radical and rapid change, it’s a chance for us to invest in a health system to bring it in the direction we want, and that will require investment.
‘Similarly, if we have tens of thousands of workers and hundreds of thousands who will be unemployed, we should be looking to really ramping up our public housing programme straight away, as a stimulus to come out of unemployment that may come with this economic downturn.’