Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
758. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with religious leaders in relation to putting plans in place regarding the way in which worship can take place safely and securely during the Christmas period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40350/20]
View answer760. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with religious leaders in relation to the way in which baptisms can take place safely and securely during varying levels of Covid-19 guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40352/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 758 and 760 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.
The Plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission and setting out what is permitted at that moment in time. It aims to allow society and businesses to be able to operate as normally as possible, while continuing to suppress the virus. The Plan is framed to account for periods during which there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated clusters and low community transmission, through to situations where there is a high or rapidly increasing incidence, widespread community transmission and the pandemic is escalating rapidly in Ireland and globally. It recognises the need for society and business to be allowed to continue as normally as possible and is designed so that either national or county level restrictions can be applied. Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services.
As I am sure the Deputy can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms. For this reason, we are all asked to be extra careful when socialising and working with others. For now, we must act like we have the virus to protect those around us from infection.
The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government Framework are based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible.
It is advised to socialise safely and within the capacity limits. These various limits in the Levels are all designed to reduce the number of households mixing with each other and cut down the virus’s chances of spreading into more homes.
The Deputies should note that the numbers should not be considered a target - they are the maximum recommended number. It’s always safer to meet less people, less often, for less time. If we do this, we have a better chance of keeping to the lower Levels in the Framework, and continuing to keep businesses, schools, and healthcare services open, while also protecting the most vulnerable.
Ireland is now on level 3 of the framework Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. Details of the public health measures in place for places of worship from 1 December can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/#measures-in-place-from-1-december.
Details of the public health measures in place for the Christmas period can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/#measures-in-place-from-18-december
Guidance for religious services can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7ba40-guidance-for-religious-services/
I and my Cabinet colleagues recognise the immense sacrifices that are being made by people across the country at this difficult time. I know that includes many people who are affected by their inability to attend church in the way they have been used to. However, there has been significant engagement and solidarity from the Catholic Church and other Faiths at all stages throughout this pandemic to ensure the protection of individuals and communities from COVID-19. Indeed, as the Deputies will be aware, the Taoiseach recently met with the leaders of the Catholic Church recently to consider the range of issues relating this matter.
