Government TDs say businesses need clarity ahead of reopening

Fianna Fáil's  Jim O'Callaghan says an easing to level 2 would allow the country "some hope".

AN infectious diseases specialist has warned that level 3 restrictions will be required when the existing lockdown ends but a number of government TDs have raised concern about a lack of clarity for businesses less than two weeks before reopening. 

Professor Sam McConkey said level 3 restrictions will need to remain in place after the gradual reopening of the economy on December 1.

He said there would be a gradual reopening of the retail sector and that toy stores could open and operate like supermarkets did during the first lockdown earlier this year, with supervised queueing, no entry without masks and limits on numbers.

Prof McConkey said that, given current Covid figures, it was unlikely that the retail sector would open before December 1, as had been suggested by some retails groups.

However, he remained optimistic about how effective the level 5 restrictions could be, pointing out that the most recent data from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) was from two weeks previously, which included the Halloween period when people were going to parties.

However, two government TDs have questioned the policy and argued that businesses were still in the dark about they would operate after December 1. 

Laois-Offaly Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen said there had not been the level of clarity that people want this close to the end of November.

“There was always going to be speculation at this point,” he said.

Mr Cowen said the Government must proactively engage with representative bodies to ensure retail and hospitality businesses have adequate time to prepare for next week’s decision.

Fellow Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan has said Ireland should move to level 2 after December 1, saying it would allow the country to limit the spread of the virus while allowing people “some hope”.

At level 2, according to guidelines “the majority of areas of economy and society, for example, schools, restaurants, pubs, and gyms, are open”.

A Dáil debate on the ending of the level 5 restrictions will be held next Tuesday, ahead of a Government decision which is expected on Friday

Mr O’Callaghan said the less restrictive measures could be used until a vaccine arrives, which is now suggested as being some time in early summer next year.

“A lot of people are concerned about the beginning of December,” said Mr O’Callaghan. “They’re concerned for themselves, their children, their businesses.

“And we don’t yet know what decision will be made next week, but it’s important to reflect on what we’ve been through with regards to level 3 — it worked and was working.

“But we’re not getting close to eliminating this virus. We will have to live with some restrictions until the vaccine is rolled out and these need to be on the lower end. We need to be realistic about what we can achieve. People are looking at Melbourne or New Zealand. We will torture ourselves trying to replicate what they achieved.

“The Government and people should be commended for the results that we’ve seen so far. But people need to be given some hope — that would mean level 2 restrictions until the vaccine.”