Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
572. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the guidelines will be changed to enable persons travelling on ferries to offshore islands social distance at 1 m with compulsory facemasks in order to ensure the viability of the services. [12659/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) provided guidance in relation to face coverings in its advice to Government in relation to Phase 2 of the Roadmap for Reopening Business & Society on 4 June.
The NPHET advice sets out circumstances under which the wearing of a non-medical face covering is recommended. These are when using busy public transport, when in indoor public areas including retail outlets, by people visiting the homes of those who are cocooning, by people who are being visited in their homes by those who are cocooning, all visitors to residential care facilities and in indoor work environments where it is difficult to maintain a two-metre distance. The wearing of face coverings in other environments should accommodate individual judgement or preference or where it is difficult to maintain a 2-metre distance. Based on current advice, there are no plans to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.
It is important to emphasise that the wearing of face coverings is an additional hygiene measure and should not take the place of good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and other personal protective public health measures. Face coverings should be used properly, in line with the guidance and to wash hands before putting them on and taking them off.
NPHET, at its meeting on Thursday 11 June, recommended that the focus in the first instance should be on increasing compliance with the current recommendations on the use of face-coverings, through the development and implementation of a national communications campaign.
On the 15th June, the Government and the National Transport Authority launched a national communications campaign which outlines best practice for the use of face coverings in retail outlets, on public transport and in other public locations in which it is difficult to maintain social distancing or where this distance cannot be guaranteed, and will communicate to the public about:
- who should wear face coverings
- in what settings, and
- how to wear and remove face coverings correctly.
Guidance on how to make and safely use face coverings is available on gov.ie/facecoverings and the HSE website. The NPHET keeps the position on the wearing of face coverings under continual review.
The Deputy might note that travel to offshore islands is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht who has responsibility for this issue.
