Taoiseach urges 'perspective' on reopening of the economy

Bars and nightclubs are awaiting clarity over Friday's reopening, while it is uncertain whether many live music gigs can go ahead

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the situation in hospitals, in ICUs, has deteriorated in the past two weeks. File picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

The Taoiseach has called on people to have a “sense of perspective” on the further reopening of the economy as hospital admissions rise.

Those working in hospitality, who are still waiting for guidelines ahead of Friday’s further easing of restrictions, have hit out at a lack of clarity provided by the Government.

However, Micheál Martin said the situation in hospitals, in ICUs, has deteriorated in the past two weeks, with 462 patients receiving care on Wednesday morning, adding that this is “the context in which we have announced a cautious reopening”.

Mr Martin said: "To be honest, my main concern is to protect public health and for people’s safety and lives, and we need to get a sense of perspective.

"Two weeks ago, we weren't anticipating these restrictions. The virus has taken a turn for the worse."

He said the same assertions around a lack of clarity had been made with previous reopenings, adding there had been “heated debate” around the vaccine cert.

Mr Martin said the Government had decided, on the advice of Nphet, to reopen with protective measures in place. He said work would continue with the sector to resolve those issues.

"The alternative would have been to pause and not reopen at all," he told reporters.

Later, during leaders questions, Mr Martin said he accepts that the nighttime events sector has been left with little time to prepare for reopening.

The Taoiseach was responding to Labour leader Alan Kelly's query on when the Fianna Fáil leader had last been to a nightclub, due to the confusing guidelines released for the sector yesterday.

Mr Martin did not respond to the query directly, but stated: "I do accept that the nighttime economy sector hasn't gotten great notice in relation to this, but that's because of how things have evolved.

"Covid is not natural. There are many twists and turns with it, and it can offset the best-laid plans we thought, two weeks ago, that we will be opening without restrictions.

"That has changed."

He said his government's central aim is to "protect people's health".

"What's critical is that as we reopen further in the context of a deteriorating situation in relation to the prevalence of the disease and its penetration into hospitals, and then we do so with caution, that's the central message of yesterday.

"There will be sectoral guidance issued to different sectors but what is extremely important, is that in terms of live entertainment that it's ring-fenced for live entertainment and that doesn't spread right across the hospitality sector."