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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Questions (554, 556, 619, 684, 704, 726)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

554. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when weddings can take place. [10903/20]

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Seán Haughey

Question:

556. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if guidelines for the holding of wedding ceremonies and receptions will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10905/20]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

619. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number allowed at small weddings during each phase of the reopening under the revised Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11089/20]

View answer

Catherine Connolly

Question:

684. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the position with regard to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions for wedding celebrations with particular reference to the announcement that small weddings will be allowed from 20 July 2020, in view of the fact no clarification has been given of the definition of a small wedding; when church ceremonies can recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11420/20]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

704. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when weddings affected by the Covid-19 restrictions can take place again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11503/20]

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Cormac Devlin

Question:

726. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on weddings of between 100 and 250 persons taking place from September 2020, subject to the targets being met in the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; if not, when a decision will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11639/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 554, 556, 619, 684, 704 and 726 together.

The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening of Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. Phase 1 was introduced on 18 May 2020 and the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business from Monday, 8 June 2020. Information and advice about the restrictions that have been eased as part of Phase 2 and the measures that are now in place are available on the Government website at http://www.gov.ie/phase2.

The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures might be lifted will be made in accordance with the Framework for Future Decision-Making which is as follows:

1. Before each Government consideration of the easing of restrictions, the Department of Health will provide a report to the Government regarding the following on/off trigger criteria:

— The latest data regarding the progression of the disease,

— The capacity and resilience of the health service in terms of hospital and ICU occupancy,

— The capacity of the programme of sampling, testing and contact tracing,

— The ability to shield and care for at risk groups,

— An assessment of the risk of secondary morbidity and mortality as a consequence of the restrictions.

2. It will also provide risk-based public health advice on what measures could be modified in the next period.

3. The Government would then consider what restrictions could be lifted, having regard to the advice of the Department of Health as well as other social and economic considerations, e.g. the potential for increased employment, relative benefits for citizens and businesses, improving national morale and wellbeing etc.

4. It is acknowledged that there is also an ongoing possibility that restrictions could be re-imposed and this process will be carried out on an ongoing basis once every 3 weeks.

As is clear from the framework described above, it is the Government rather than the Minister or Department of Health that will decide on any modifications to the current public health measures in place and those decisions will be informed by the status of the on/off trigger criteria and the public health advice received at the time that a decision is being made. The decisions of the Government are published and the guidance in operation at a point in time are available on the Government website at http://www.gov.ie/.

The Government also agreed to bring forward actions in the remaining phases of the Roadmap and plan for four phases rather than the five originally indicated. Work is underway to consider how best to achieve this aim and more information will be made available in the coming weeks.

The exact numbers of person which can attend events in future phases have not been determined in advance. As with all other decisions under the Roadmap, these will be informed, at the time that the decision is made, by the status of the on/off trigger criteria and the public health advice received.

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