Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
710. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if there will be a revision to the Covid-19 restrictive guidelines as they pertain to agriculture marts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17024/20]
View answerOn 19 June 2020, the then Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, announced the restrictions that would be eased and the measures that will be in place in Phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business. On Thursday 25th June the Government confirmed the move to Phase 3 of the Roadmap from Monday, 29 June 2020. Information and advice about the restrictions that have been eased as part of Phase 3 and the measures that are now in place are available on the Government website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d06271-easing-the-covid-19-restrictions-on-29-june-phase-3/.
The latest public health advice which applies to all circumstances is available on the websites of the HSE at https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre at https://www.hpsc.ie/ and on the Government website at https://www.gov.ie/en/. This advice and guidance is updated on an ongoing basis.
I would also wish to draw the Deputy's attention to the Return to Work Safely Protocol, published by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. This detailed guidance document was developed to assist employers and employees in the coming period and is available at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Return-to-Work-Safely-Protocol.html. The Protocol is mandatory, and it applies to all workplaces right across the economy. Specific sectors may need to introduce additional safeguards, but this document sets out the standard set of measures required in every workplace.
Guidance in relation to specific sectors of the economy are matters in the first instance for the Government Department with responsibility for that sector. Matters relating to agricultural marts are the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
