Public should now think outside the box and explore hidden gems in their county
Denis Naughten TD has welcomed the Government implementation of his suggestion to allow for greater movement within geographic areas, following the announcement of countywide travel measures.
Before the lifting of any lockdown restrictions, Denis Naughten proposed to An Taoiseach that the Government should use the geographic provisions for the movement of people specifically provided for in legislation under Section 10 of Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020.
“The implementation of this geographic travel measure that allows people travel within their own county will allow the public to benefit from local amenities and explore their own local county,” stated Denis Naughten.
“I would encourage people to ‘think outside the box’ a bit and not congregate around the most popular destinations and instead explore some of the hidden gems in their county. I would actively encourage communities to promote their local amenities by using the hashtag #Hidden followed by their county such as #HiddenRoscommon or #HiddenGalway.
“We don’t want the population of County Galway flocking to Salthill or the population of Clare landing in Lahinch because this will undermine the heroic efforts by every citizen in this State to stop the spread of this virus.
“Should people congregate around the most popular attractions we risk a second wave of infection which in this instance could be concentrated in counties.
“I have already contacted Fáilte Ireland asking that they help support a social media campaign to promote local attractions,” concluded Denis Naughten.
ENDS.
Amendment of Act of 1947
- The Act of 1947 is amended by the insertion of the following sections after section 31:
“Regulations for preventing, limiting, minimising or slowing spread of
Covid-19
31A. (1) The Minister may, having regard to the immediate, exceptional and
manifest risk posed to human life and public health by the spread of
Covid-19 and to the matters specified in subsection (2), make
regulations for the purpose of preventing, limiting, minimising or
slowing the spread of Covid-19 (including the spread outside the
State) or where otherwise necessary, to deal with public health risks
arising from the spread of Covid-19 and, without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing, such regulations may, in particular,
provide for all or any of the following:
(a) restrictions to be imposed upon travel to or from the State;
(b) restrictions to be imposed upon travel to, from or within
geographical locations to which an affected areas order applies;
(c) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b), restrictions to
be imposed upon persons or classes of persons resident in, working
in or visiting locations referred to in paragraph (b) including (but
not limited to)—
(i) requiring persons to remain in their homes, or
(ii) without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act or
regulations made thereunder requiring persons to remain in such
other places, as may be specified by the Minister;