A Clare Fine Gael Senator insists a complete lifting of travel restrictions would not be responsible.
Health officials are warning that increased Covid cases narrows the possibilities for easing restrictions next month, but Clare Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley has called for travel restrictions to be eradicated, amongst other moves.
Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway thinks the Government should instead be guided by public health advice and wait until such a time that restrictions can be lifted permanently.
Talks are continuing this week on what restrictions, if any, will be lifted from April 5th.
It’s believed the 5 kilometre limit, construction and outdoor and sporting activity are being considered, though that has been cast into doubt due to continued high numbers of cases in recent days.
520 new cases were reported yesterday, including fewer than five in Clare, while the latest figures show 487,000 people have been given the first dose of a vaccine.
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has said people could be back living a largely normal day-to-day life by summer, if vaccines are rolled out and a fourth wave is suppressed.
Clare’s Fianna Fail Senator has said he believes the priority now has to be on ensuring hospitals aren’t overcome, rather than tightening restrictions further.
Senator Timmy Dooley also believes people should be allowed travel anywhere in Ireland from the 5th of April.
Clare’s Fine Gael Senator doesn’t agree though.
Martin Conway, who’s his party’s Health Spokesperson accepts that everyone is finding the current period very difficult, but says that until the over 70s and vulnerable are vaccinated, there will be a need for punitive restrictions.
Senator Conway says lifting restrictions completely wouldn’t be reasonable.
