Deputy John McGuinness said the public have “had enough” of being told the situation is constantly changing in regards to the threat of Covid-19.
A government TD has said he was “shocked” at party-colleague Stephen Donnelly’s belated call for “a conversation” with the hospitality industry just hours after postponing indoor dining again.
The Carlow-Kilkenny representative told Newstalk that such talks should have taken place before making a decision to delay reopening the hospitality sector fully, calling the Minister for Health’s communication strategy “poor management”.
“When the Minister for Health came out as part of this announcement and said that we now have to have a conversation with the sector, quite frankly I was just shocked at that statement,” McGuinness said.
“Having a conversation now with the sector after you’ve just closed them down again is just poor management, it’s bad management and it shouldn’t happen.
“I’m sorry, look all over Europe: that conversation has been had months ago, solutions have been put in place and there wasn’t this kneejerk reaction which has caused uproar in the hospitality sector.
“Everyone acknowledges the damage that Delta variant can do, we understand that – we haven’t been privy to the modelling and to the commentary internally from Tony Holohan.
“But from news and watching the world news, you come to know about it.
“They didn’t make themselves aware, they’re not doing their job at Cabinet in the context of managing the country, they’re not doing it very well.
“They should have known this from Tony Holohan as they went along, walking with him – and indeed the Minister for Health – and the same corridor as him.
“They should have known that this day was coming, they should have planned, they should have had supports in place and they should have brought the sector along with them”.
McGuinness accused Cabinet ministers of “running for cover” and trying to shift the blame for continued restrictions onto Tony Holohan’s NPHET committee.
“I thought it was a very poorly communicated decision, and I have witnessed the various ministers that sit around Cabinet table now trying to push the blame towards Tony Holohan and others running for cover,” he claimed.
“When in fact, they could have and should have discussed this more openly with Tony Holohan and with their colleagues in Cabinet.
“The Government with Tony Holohan are managing this pandemic and our response to it.
“And I have to say that I find it hard to believe that this letter from Tony Holohan was the first that they had learned of the difficulties that were coming up in terms of the Delta variant.
“They should have known it and they should have been planning far in advance of the announcement.
“And when the announcement was made, they should have been a lot more informative.
“They came out and they said ‘We’re not opening’ and gave no date – even an indicative date – of when they might open.
“These small businesses have been investing in their staff, investing in their stocks, investing in their businesses – suddenly to be told ‘We’re not opening this day either’ – it simply isn’t good enough.”
'Having a conversation now with the sector, after you just closed them down again, is just poor management.' @JMcGuinnessTD on @TheHardShoulder discussing restrictions on indoor businesses pic.twitter.com/0mJoxpM1xV
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) June 30, 2021