No exact science behind 8pm closures but 'letting Omicron rip' was too risky — Taoiseach
Mr Martin acknowledged there was no exact science around timing when asked about the 8pm closing time for the hospitality sector.
The Government cannot risk letting the Omicron variant of coronavirus "rip" through the population, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said.
Fresh restrictions were introduced on Monday, including an 8pm curfew on hospitality, while the chief medical officer has urged people to rethink their Christmas plans.
Mr Martin has said that while there are doubts over Omicron's severity, the experience of last Christmas shows we cannot "let it rip and hope for the best".
Last January saw one of the most significant waves of the pandemic, with hospitals pushed to breaking point following the arrival of the Alpha variant and increased socialising at Christmas.
Mr Martin said about the experience of last year: "It does weigh on me, of course, and there are similarities here."
He added: "There was a variant arrived on the scene. We didn't have as much knowledge perhaps of Alpha as we now do of Omicron.
"We know what happened in terms of when a variant comes along that has a significant advantage over the previous iteration of the virus.
"It can wreak havoc and you get many, many new cases, you get more hospitalisation.
"We got through it in the end, but it was with a heavy price."
Mr Martin acknowledged there was no exact science around timing when asked about the 8pm closing time for the hospitality sector.
The Government had wanted to achieve a balance and the 8pm closing time would give people an opportunity to get out over the festive break “without overdoing it”, he said.
"That is the context and we cannot take the risk with the population. We cannot take that risk in terms of just letting it rip and hope for the best," he told Newstalk Breakfast.
"That would not be, I think, the right thing to do."
The Taoiseach said the country was facing "a very challenging January", but that without vaccines, we would be in "total lockdown".
He said the booster campaign would help see the country through the next wave.
"I think it will give us a significant protection," he said.
"I think we can get through this. It's many twists and turns and there are no guarantees, one cannot be certain.
"But I think the combination of the booster campaign with modification in our behaviour with the restrictions that have been introduced if you combine all of that, I would like to think that we would be in a better position compared to last year in the context of a new variant arriving on the scene."
But he ruled out introducing a mandatory vaccination system.
"I personally have the view that we stick with a voluntary system. It has worked in Ireland more than anywhere else in the world," he said.
"Some of those countries are now talking about mandatory vaccination. There's no guarantee that will work by the way.
"I mean, I was listening to one prime minister talking about fines of €600 every three months. That's what mandatory regime looks like.
"In my view, I think we have to keep pushing the voluntary approach which has achieved an enormous amount."
Meanwhile, a host of business supports aimed at assisting companies hit by the latest Covid restrictions will be agreed by the Government today.
Changes to the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) are expected, aimed at bringing more hospitality businesses into the net of qualifying for support.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar indicated on Friday, during the announcement of the latest restrictions on hospitality, that the schemes would likely be the same as during the summer when outdoor dining only was permitted.
It is understood that affected businesses could claim up to €5,000 a week under the CRSS scheme.
The Government is also expected to give its backing today to a micro-generation support scheme to enable homes, businesses, farms and communities to sell excess renewable electricity that they’ve generated back into the grid.
It will allow homes and smaller businesses, farms and community buildings (up to 5.9kW) to apply for a grant of up to €2,400 towards the cost of installing equipment such as solar panels.
They will also receive a tariff equivalent to the wholesale electricity rate for any energy they sell back into the grid known as the clean export guarantee.
Larger, non-domestic operators (between 6kW and 50kW) will be able to apply for a separate clean export premium for 15 years. This will be worth €0.135/kWh in 2022, which is higher than the current wholesale electricity price.
The Cabinet will also discuss a memo from Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien which aims to make it easier for pensioners to purchase social homes.
Changes to the Tenant Purchase Scheme will reduce the level of income pensioner tenants will require to be eligible to apply from €15,000 to €12,500.
It will be introduced in the short term and will ensure pensioners can now qualify to purchase their home under the scheme. The change will only apply to pensions.
The Government will also extend the minimum period tenants will be required to be in receipt of social housing support before being eligible to purchase a local authority house from one to 10 years.
These changes will be progressed by amending the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue is also bringing Ireland's multi-billion euro Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to cabinet today.
The plan, which must be submitted for ratification to the European Commission before the end of the year, will see €9.8bn in funding made available to 130,000 farm families. The Irish exchequer is putting forward €2.3bn, the most by any previous government in a CAP plan.
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