Extension valid until 9th January 2022
Download full debate from Oireachtas website
Watch video – votes result at 12.54 The debate regarding the Health Amendment No 2 Act 2021 is missing in this video
The debate regarding the Health Amendment No 2 Act is also missing in the pdf
Full debate from Oireachtas website and voting (page 776 -797)
Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) …774
Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages… 776
Mandatory Hotel Quarantine Extension: Motion … 632
Lifting of Covid-19 Restrictions: Motion [Private Members]… 639
In page 5, line 9, to delete “the later of” and substitute “9 October 2021”.
The purpose of these amendments is to ensure that there is no option to extend the measures in this Bill, as is currently the case.”
Health Amendment Act valid from 8 June – 31 July 2021
Debate is missing in the pdf, votes results are noted see page 277
Download full debate from Oireachtas website The debate regarding the Health Amendment Act No 2 is missing, also missing in the pdf.
Watch video from Oireachtas website, the debate is missing also the voting
Action – letter sent to politicians and their reply
Reply from….
Michael McNamara:
‘Thank you for your email, contents are noted.’
Damien English
‘On behalf of Damien English TD, Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your email. It has been brought to the Minister’s attention and he will feed your concerns into discussions.’
James Lawless
‘Thank you for your email, which I will bring to the attention of James’
Reply from Sinn Féin
Thank you for taking the time to email me with the attached letter. When this was rushed through the Dáil in October and June, Sinn Féin tabled amendments to limit the scope of the emergency legislation. We sought for the Government to bring forward less discretionary legislation which did not avoid Dáil scrutiny. Sinn Féin wants the Government to bring forward a plan that works for everyone. The existing legislation has given far too much discretion and emergency powers to the Minister for Health. More concrete legislation subject to Dáil scrutiny could have been brought forward instead of emergency legislation, which will be in operation for more than a year. We are opposed to the continuing operation of emergency legislation with such broad discretionary powers delegating Oireachtas responsibilities to the Minister for longer than necessary. This would not undo restrictions but would ensure that new regulations are adequately scrutinised, debated, and agreed by the Dáil. They should not be delegated to the Minister with no requirement to seek approval of the Oireachtas. While we hope that the easing of restrictions will continue as a result of high vaccination and reduced covid hospitalisations and deaths, if a resolution comes before the Houses of the Oireachtas in September or October to extend the legislation further, we will be guided by the public health advice. We will need to evaluate the public health situation and the vaccine rollout at that stage to determine if there is a need for this legislation to remain in place. It is incumbent on the Minister for Health to bring forward rational and reasonable measures which are appropriate and proportionate to the risk presented by the pandemic at that stage. We will continue to be informed by the evolving public health situation and the NPHET advice. Ádh mór, Ruairí Ó Murchú TD., Rose Conway Walsh, Violet- Anne Wynne
Alan Dillon
Just a short note to acknowledge your message regarding legislation around Public Health restrictions. As you may be aware, the Government recently announced updated guidance and advice to come into effect from 22nd October onwards. I enclose below the relevant link, which may be of interest to you. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/83946-public-health-measures-that-will-come-into-place-in-october/ This removes the bulk of remaining Public Health restrictions. However, I will carefully review any proposals to come before the Oireachtas.
Peadar Toibin
Thank you for your email on this important matter. I wish to confirm that the Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD will be voting against the government's attempts to extend the Emergency Powers Health Bill. We in Aontú believe that the government's response to Covid-19, in terms of lockdowns and restrictions has been excessive and we are also opposed to vaccine passports which are, in our view, discriminatory and a gross infringement on civil rights. The lockdowns and restrictions imposed by the government have been longer and more severe than in most other EU countries. With the anticipated easing of most restrictions later this month, there seems little reason to extend the legislation that enables this discrimination and such draconian restrictions. The Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD will proudly vote against this Bill. Many thanks for your email
Marian Harkin (NOTE: Marian did vote against the Act 14 July and 6 Oct, but voted for the Act 2 June)
A Chara,
Thank you for your recent email regarding Part 2 of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021, which is being voted on tonight in Dail Eireann. As you can imagine, I have received a very large number of emails on this matter and unfortunately, I cannot reply to each one individually, so am sending a group email to all of those who contacted me.
First of all, can I say that in the previous vote I did not support the Government proposal and I attach for your information a copy of the speech I made as rationale for this.
I have committed to a pairing with a Government Minister for this evening’s vote, which means I will not be voting, but neither will the Minister in question, so my vote is taken automatically as a vote against this Bill and their vote as a vote in favour, so one vote cancels out the other.
Again, just to reiterate, my vote last July is on the record of the house and holds for tonight’s vote.
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch on this important matter.
