Yesterday.

Seanad Eireann, Dublin.

Independent Sharon Keogan addressed Minister for Health Stephen Donnely on the extension of covid powers under the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021.

Senator Keogan said:

“You would have to laugh, if it were not so serious, at the phrase “extraordinary time-limited measures” contained in this Bill’s explanatory memorandum. As each Bill was passed, that “time-limited nature” was stressed so heavily and yet each sunset clause extension was used in its entirety – every single one, for the full amount.

“When we were debating those, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, stressed that this was the end of it, and once those dates came and went, new legislation would have to be drawn up. New legislation being drawn up would give the Houses a chance to go through the detail of each Bill and afford the Bills the scrutiny that they are supposed to receive in these Houses.

“Of course, that would be inconvenient to the Government so someone came up with this new brainwave. To be honest, I was shocked that this was allowed after all the posturing on how extraordinary these measures are, and as for the time limits, you can literally scribble out the end dates and pencil in any other date you want.

“It displays the most cynical and underhanded attitude towards this House that I have ever seen in my time here. It undermines the integrity of the law, of the processes and operation of the Oireachtas, and betrays what little of the public trust that is left.

Let us be honest here. We are not voting for the continuation of emergency powers until the end of March. We are extending them until the end of June. That means that, at the drop of a hat, when someone in Timbuktu discovers the Sigma variant, NPHET and the Cabinet can, if they feel like it, introduce a full level 5 lockdown without consulting anyone in the Dáil or Seanad…”

Senator Jerry Buttimer rising, interjected:

“Does the Senator really believe that? Incredible.”

Acting Chairperson (Senator Pauline O’Reilly) said:

“Senator Buttimer, please take your seat.”

Senator Keogan continued:

“Of course, once July arrives the legislation will lapse and we will be free from restrictions – wink wink, nudge nudge. I hope the Minister realises there is no coming back from this. After this, no one will take a sunset clause seriously again; no one in this room or outside it.

Once you throw this integral element of legislation under the bus, there is no pulling it back. Future Dáileanna and Seanaid and future generations, when presented with time-sensitive legislation by the government of their day, will be able to point to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and the Cabinet of Micheál Martin and say that sunset clauses are not worth the paper they are written on.”

Earlier: Take Their PUPS