Clare’s Independent TD believes questions need to be answered on the long term plan for getting the country out of lockdown.
Level five restrictions are due to come into force tomorrow, with some modifications for retail, and senior government figures have already suggested that they could be in place until March.
From tomorrow, the country will move to the highest level of restrictions on the government’s COVID-19 road map, with some modifications including allowing non-essential retailers to keep their doors open.
Hotels, gastropubs, hairdressers and beauticians will have to close, while restrictions on household visits and inter-county travel will be phased in from St. Stephen’s Day.
These measures will be reviewed on the 12th of January, but yesterday the Tanaiste admitted they may have to remain in place until February or even March, at which point COVID vaccines will have been deployed to tens of thousands of people.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe admits there’s currently no way to know how long these measures will have to remain in place.
Clare’s Independent TD says he understands why the latest restrictions have been put in place, saying something had to be done to stop virus getting out of control and to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.
But Scariff Deputy Michael McNamara has questioned whether any substantive steps have been taken to bolster hospital capacity.
He also feels that questions now need to be answered on the long term plan for getting the country out of lockdown.
Next week Northern Ireland will impose even stricter restrictions, prompting fears that will drive numbers from the north into the republic.
Clare Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway, who’s his party’s Seanad spokesperson on Health says while an all-Ireland approach is preferable, it’s not always possible.
