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The Government is not scared to make tough calls to prioritize public health as Ireland continues to emerge from lockdown, the Minister for Agriculture has said.<\/p>\nThe Government is not scared to make tough calls to prioritize public health as Ireland continues to emerge from lockdown, the Minister for Agriculture has said.<\/p>\n
Dara Calleary said pushing back the reopening date for all pubs demonstrated that ministers would not balk at taking unpopular decisions in order to suppress Covid-19.<\/p>\n
Mr Calleary\u2019s remarks came ahead of a week when the Government will publish its green list for safe travel and unveil an economic stimulus package aimed at supporting businesses and workers worst hit by the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The newly formed coalition, and in particular freshly appointed Minister for Education Norma Foley, are also facing intensifying calls to provide clarity on plans for schools reopening at the end of August.<\/p>\n
Mr Calleary, who replaced Barry Cowen as Minister for Agriculture last week following his sacking, said public health would be at the heart of all the Government\u2019s considerations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made the tough call on the pubs during the week,\u201d he told RT\u00c9\u2019s The Week In Politics.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have shown as a Government that we will make tough calls, we\u2019re not going to progress the (recovery) roadmap unless it\u2019s safe to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might be popular to do so, but unless it\u2019s safe and unless public health stands up we cannot do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
At a Cabinet meeting on Monday, ministers are set to decide what countries will be included on Ireland\u2019s green list for safe travel.<\/p>\n
Currently, people arriving in Ireland from overseas \u2013 with limited exceptions such as essential supply chain workers \u2013 are required to fill in a passenger locator form and self-quarantine for 14 days.<\/p>\n
People crossing the border from Northern Ireland are not subject to restrictions on their movement.<\/p>\n
Travelers arriving in Ireland from countries on the new green list will not be required to isolate for two weeks.<\/p>\n
Only countries that have a coronavirus infection rate the same or lower than Ireland will be included on the list. That means Great Britain and the US are both set to be excluded from the list, as potentially are other popular holiday destinations such as France, Spain and Portugal.<\/p>\n
Opposition politicians have highlighted that people who have already paid for foreign holidays are unlikely to be able to claim back the money if the Government categorizes their chosen destinations as safe to travel to.<\/p>\n
Mr Calleary insisted the Government was putting out a clear message on travel.<\/p>\n
“The advice is non-essential travel is still out, it’s not recommended, but we have to have a structure in place for business travel, for necessary business travel.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe green list is going to be established purely because we\u2019re going to be living with Covid for some time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we do have to have a structure. The advice is non-essential travel is still out, it\u2019s not recommended, but we have to have a structure in place for business travel, for necessary business travel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether the Government needed to also introduce coronavirus testing at airports, Mr Calleary said: \u201cThat\u2019s going to be looked at.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe cannot shut down the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The July stimulus package, which is due to be published on Tuesday or Wednesday, is set to include a series of measures to boost the economy.<\/p>\n
It is expected to deliver extensions to the wage subsidy scheme and the waiver on commercial rates.<\/p>\n
Restart grants for business are likely to be offered, as are low interest loan options.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to protect the economy,\u201d Mr Calleary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to protect those that create jobs. And, yes, there\u2019s a lot of sectors taking a particular hit and I would hope to see them getting a focus in this stimulus package as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we have shown this week that we will make the hard decisions in relation to public health and that we will protect public health and public health will be at the heart of any decisions in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding to calls from school leaders for detail on the planned restart of classroom learning, Mr Calleary insisted \u201chuge work\u201d was ongoing.<\/p>\n
He said ensuring the safe reopening of schools in the autumn was the Government\u2019s \u201cnumber one priority\u201d.<\/p>\n