Politicians’ anger over vaccine passport

The proposed passport system that could allow only vaccinated or Covid-19 immune people to dine or drink indoors from July 19 has been labelled as discriminatory and unworkable by Galway politicians.

“Shocking and unacceptable” was how Leas Ceann Comhairle, Catherine Connolly (Ind) described the proposed policy, which was flagged last week after reopening of indoor hospitality was delayed due to fears over the Delta variant of Covid-19.

“When the Minister for Health (Stephen Donnelly) came out with a statement that only vaccinated people could go to restaurants, pubs and so on, I find that shocking and unacceptable. It lays bare the worth of the rhetoric to the effect that we are all in this together. We never have been,” she said.

EU Digital Covid Certificates are due to issue to vaccinated or immune people from July 12, to facilitate travel within the EU.

Government has flown a kite suggesting these might be used as passports to facilitate indoor dining but an official decision and exact details on this isn’t expected until next week.

Deputy Connolly said there was a lack of clarity about the digital passports, which would apparently be posted out via the Office of An Taoiseach. “I find the whole thing unacceptable,” added the Galway West TD.

Publican and Galway senator Ollie Crowe (FF) suggested passports for indoor dining were unworkable.

“I find the notion of the hospitality sector having to police who is coming into the business, and whether they are vaccinated, is just not going to work. I just don’t see it working,” he said.

He said antigen testing – which gives rapid results within minutes but has limitations – could facilitate indoor hospitality.

Senator Crowe said the hospitality sector has been “hammered” since March 2020, and the delay to reopening on July 5 was “the lowest point in the pandemic so far” for the industry.

The summer season allows these businesses to survive the dark and wet nights of winter, he added.

“Many businesses would take in as much in a week in July as they would in all of November.”

Senator Crowe said that 50% of the adult population had been vaccinated, including at-risk people, adding that “it is simply unacceptable that indoor hospitality remains closed”.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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