Last night the Taoiseach announced measures to curb the Covid-19 surge. Nobody wanted a backwards step in the progress won over a long, hard and often heartbreaking 18 months. We now find ourselves in a very difficult situation. Difficult situations require decisive leadership, forward planning and thoughtful management, all of which are absent from the Taoiseach’s Government. Indeed, there has been Government paralysis facing into this wave of infection. The surge in Covid-19 numbers did not happen overnight. Public health officials have been ringing the alarm bells loudly for weeks. That is why it is so very difficult to understand the Government’s dithering, delaying and indecision on antigen testing, the resourcing of our health services and on the booster vaccination campaign.

The use of antigen testing was recommended as far back as last April, but on the radio this morning the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, still could not detail any plan. Other countries are streets ahead of us on antigen testing, with free and subsidised schemes to reduce costs for people. The Government's failure to prepare to increase capacity in our health service is demonstrated in its winter plan and it leaves us dangerously exposed. The lack of pace and planning around the booster campaign has also set us back. The majority of healthcare workers were ready for their third dose in October, but many will not now be done until December. A quick and efficient roll-out of boosters was a no-brainer and, again, other countries have been up and at it much faster.

The only thing the Government seems capable of doing quickly is shutting things down. The Taoiseach can call it whatever he wants, but he has effectively shut down the late-night sector with less than 48 hours' notice and no consultation. Three weeks ago, the Taoiseach announced the reopening of this sector and last night he closed it back down like the flick of a switch. This is a massive blow to workers and businesses in the live entertainment and late-night industries that have endured a devastating 18 months. Now, weeks before Christmas and with the cost of living soaring, these workers are prevented from earning again. The Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday that there is no plan to reopen the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, or to delay cuts to it. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, reiterated that position on the radio this morning. This is not a runner.

This shutdown stops thousands of workers earning the money they need to pay their bills. They and families must be protected. The message from the Government to these workers so far, that they should go and find another job, is deeply insulting. These are skilled people, such as musicians, event planners, DJs, comedians and entertainers, and it is important that their skills are maintained within their sector so that it has the chance to flourish when it reopens. Tá easpa pleanála agus ullmhúcháin an Rialtais leis an mborradh Covid seo do-ghlactha. Ní mór a chinntiú go gcoinnítear tacaíochtaí d'oibrithe agus do ghnóthaí a bhfuil thíos leis an dúnadh. I want the Taoiseach to tell the workers and employers affected by this shutdown that they will be provided with the PUP, that the cuts will be halted and that they will be supported.

It has always been a source of regret for me that since this Government was elected and officially nominated that the Deputy and her party have taken a divisive approach to Covid-19. She has always sought to exploit the pandemic for political and electoral ends. I regret having to say that, but it is absolutely clear.

Pathetic.

The hallmark of her position from the outset has been one of running with the hare and hunting with the hound. She has undermined NPHET advice at different stages of the pandemic, with calls for pubs to be opened in advance of any advice, then rushing to get the airports closed and then rushing to get them opened again. It has been the classic presentation from the Deputy from the get-go.

I want to keep this in perspective, however. If we look at where we are now, connectivity has reopened and travel into and out of the country is happening. Hospitality, personal services, sports events, schools, construction and childcare have all reopened at a time when we have 4,500 cases daily. The challenge now, as we move through different phases of the pandemic, is that we must assess the most appropriate response to that increased socialisation. Thousands of people have been brought back to work because of a very effective and successful vaccination programme that the Deputy lacks the generosity of spirit to acknowledge. That is a fact. The people have stood up and were counted by coming forward and getting vaccinated.

The effectiveness of the vaccines is waning; that is a global phenomenon. There will be a need for a booster campaign and close to 400,000 people have already received a booster vaccination. I do not know if it is the Deputy’s position that we should just simply up end the process that we have for recommending the use of vaccines. Is the Deputy saying to me that the advisory processes we have should be put to one side? If so, I ask the Deputy please to say that and not just do the generalisation of attacking the Government because it suits on each and every occasion.

The difference between the booster program and the primary vaccination programme is that the booster programme will take place five months - the recommendation is six months but can be given after five months - after people's second doses and not sooner than that. The advice, from the European Medicines Agency, EMA, or nationally, does not allow for it earlier, unless people are in one of the eligible categories, such as those who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is a period of three months for people in those eligible categories who are advised and recommended to get a booster vaccination. The national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, keeps this continually under review.

In the Dáil, yesterday, I outlined the various sectors and categories now involved in the booster campaign, from the residents of long-term care facilities aged over 65, who were substantially completed by the end of October; to the residents of long-term care aged under 65, who will be completed by early to mid-December; to healthcare workers who will be completed by the end of December; and then those aged 80 and older, who will be done by mid-November. The programme continues with those aged 70 to 79, followed by those aged 60 to 69 and now those aged over 50 have now been advised-----

The Taoiseach has 30 seconds to answer the question.

Deputy Carthy is not the leader of the Sinn Féin Party yet.

I came in here to hear answers to the questions, but the Taoiseach was not answering them.

I would appreciate it if the Deputy would allow me to answer the questions without being interrupted, which is again a further tactical parliamentary device that he is prone to use.

Please, Deputies.

That is where our booster campaign stands and we will drive it forward, just as we drove the primary vaccination programme forward. What is crucial now is that we have to reduce socialisation. I did not do anything with a switch. Deputy McDonald talked about planning, but two weeks ago her party’s spokesperson on health was saying that the time had come when the powers under the health legislation were no longer necessary. He was so far ahead of planning that he wanted to get rid of them, and he was not supporting them.

He was not giving them-----

The time is up, please.

Equally, Sinn Féin did not support vaccination certificates. The party opposed them as well. It has been so behind the curve on Covid-19, and the only reason it has been behind the curve is that it has suited it to be so politically, because it has only sought to exploit it at each and every turn.

We are way over time. I call Deputy McDonald.

It is a source of deep regret to me that not alone can Mícheál Martin's Government not take decisive action, but that he is singularly unable to answer very straightforward questions again.

Hear, hear.

The facts are these: the Government is behind the curve on antigen testing and on the booster programme and the facts stack that up.

They do not. We are ahead of many other countries on the booster programme, and quite significantly.

Attacking me and conjuring up all of this does not prove anything.

Let us deal with the most immediate matter at hand. The Government has taken a decision which shuts down late-night industries, such as events, hospitality etc. This is going to have an impact on thousands of workers who can no longer earn their living. I ask the Taoiseach to forget his political smoke and mirrors, and I put it to him as a matter of just straightforward fairness that those workers and businesses have to be supported.

They are and have been supported, and the Deputy knows that well.

I thank the Deputies.

I again invite the Taoiseach to make clear that workers will be able to avail of the PUP, that businesses will be supported and that he will not throw thousands of workers under the bus as a consequence of his poor management and lack of decisive leadership. I call on him to support those workers and their families.

Last night, I thought you supported the decisions we took. Which way is it? Do you support what we decided? You might confirm that in the fullness of time.

Do you want to trade seats? When I am in your seat, I will answer questions. You should not worry about that.

I will tell you now. As you know well, we have supported industry and businesses throughout the pandemic to an unprecedented scale. We will continue to engage with the night-time economy, in this case, in respect of the supports such as the Covid-19 restrictions support scheme, CRSS, that we have made available. People in any sector will acknowledge that although, of course, the Deputy will not. Those people will acknowledge that extraordinary supports have been provided to businesses across the length and breadth of the country, and rightly so. It is incredible that the Deputy comes in here and tries to suggest they have not been. It is the hallmark of the Deputy's approach.

The Government cut the PUP this week.

Antigen testing has been extended to meat plants, nursing homes and close contacts. Antigen tests are now being sent out free to close contacts of Covid cases. The Deputy knows that. The same situation applies in third level education. They will be deployed more widely. That must be done in the proper way in accordance with the public health advice we have received.

Will workers be able to avail of the PUP? I am asking for a "Yes" or a "No".

I said to the Deputy that we will continue to work with the sectors and support them. In respect of the PUP, the most consistent message we are hearing is that businesses cannot get people to work in different sectors and are short of staff. We will engage with the sector through the various schemes we have had so far to keep enterprises together. Where Government decisions affect those enterprises, we will support them to get through this period.