Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane has said that the government needs to stop flying kites on reopening the economy and instead provide a clear maximum suppression strategy for getting ahead of Covid-19.

Speaking today, Teachta Cullinane said:

“The government must stop kite flying and do its job.

“We need a change in approach towards a maximum suppression strategy.

“We need to get numbers low as we can and keep them there.

“It is really important that lessons are learned.

“The kite-flying by Tánaiste yesterday yet again is an absolute disgrace.

“It shows that no lessons have been learned as he continues to sow confusion on public health advice.

“The Tánaiste cannot continue to blame others for the fact that this government has never done its job in relation to travel, a robust and proactive testing and tracing system, and all-island cooperation. 

“People want a clear plan and a strategy based on the public health advice.

“Workers, families and businesses are making huge sacrifices to get the virus under control, and half-baked government measures is what has undone that work.

“Time and again, the public health advice has been to get rid of discretionary elements of travel restrictions.

“The Minister says that government is moving from an advisory regime to mandatory quarantine, but that is simply not true.

“The new regulations cannot be enforced – it has to be mandatory quarantine in hotels for non-essential travellers, otherwise it simply will not work.

“The Minister cannot explain the difference with self-isolation because the reality is there is no difference, and that has not worked.”