Disagreement erupts between Government and Opposition over new Covid laws

There is growing tension in the Dáil over what the Opposition sees as government attempts to forced legislation through.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly speaking to the media at Government Buildings. File Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

A major disagreement has erupted between the Government and the Opposition over attempts to limit this week’s debate on new Covid-19 laws.

The Opposition are unhappy that the Government is seeking to curtail a debate on Thursday in relation to the return of Mandatory Hotel Quarantine.

Concern was also expressed that a separate bill, granting significant emergency powers to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, has not yet been published.

Members of the Dáil Business Committee are furious that while elements of the bill have been flagged, the actual legislation has not yet been forthcoming and they say a proposal to guillotine or limit the debate on the bill is completely unacceptable.

In the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin hit out at Opposition charges that the government was seeking to subvert the Dáil. “You know what’s in the law, it is not the third secret of Fatima.”

“On mandatory quarantine, the Deputies know what that is. It was not so long ago that they were all screaming for it in a previous phase of the pandemic. We could not bring it in fast enough. 

"It is the same Bill almost coming back in. Now, the Deputies are claiming that it is outrageous that they have not seen it. The same principles apply. Likewise, on the public health measures. Which way do the Deputies want it?”

 “I am simply saying that the public health measures have to be extended. That is all we are doing. The Deputies are familiar with them. We debate and discuss them at committees and the plenary session. They are not the third secret of Fatima. 

"That is all that is being put forward. What is happening is the consolidation of existing different pieces of legislation. The Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill will be published and that is what is in it essentially. 

"We want to have the mandatory quarantine capacity on the Statute Book again. There was an expiry date in the previous measures,” he said.

Roisin Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats said the fact that the Bill has not been published yet is “not acceptable”.

“We do not know what is in it. It is only reasonable that we should be given an opportunity to consider it and adequate notice from the point of view of tabling amendments. The handling of this bill is not acceptable,” she said.

Sources have indicated that the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Independent TDs were all furious and are set to oppose the attempt to limit debate, at a meeting of the Business Committee.

There have been increasing rows in the Dáil every week over what the Opposition sees as government attempts to "ram" legislation through the Dáil.

Given this bill is set to confer such extensive powers on the minister for health, opposition TDs are demanding a longer debate.

Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane said his party had reservations about giving Mr Donnelly a free pass for further emergency Covid legislation.

The Bill, which would consolidate existing emergency measures, is due to be debated and passed on Friday. A spokesman for Chief Whip Jack Chambers said no time limit will apply to the Covid bill as it is in committee stage.

"We do have reservations about that Bill," said Mr Cullinane, claiming the Minister had made a "dog's dinner" of previous measures.

"We're not in the mood to give this particular Minister for Health any blank cheques in relation to introducing regulations where there's no accountability, or oversight or debate.

"So we'll obviously have to study what legislation comes. We will table amendments as have others in the past as well — the Social Democrats, Labor, People Before Profit — others have tabled amendments to ensure that we have a level of accountability and transparency," Mr Cullinane said.