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RURAL INDEPENDENT TDS has asked that places of worship be open to small congregations at Easter.
Mattie McGrath, Carol Nolan and Michael Collins raised the proposal at the Dáil tonight as a topical issue.
TDs want places of worship to be allowed to open on a limited basis during Easter.
However, they were told that Easter should be celebrated virtually in accordance with current restrictions.
The Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, said that “based on the current epidemiological situation and the public health restrictions that exist, it will be necessary to celebrate Easter online at home this year.”
“This is for the protection of our friends, our families, and our communities in general. Basic public health advice and regulatory measures aimed at blocking person-to-person transmission of Covid-19 remain vital, ”Rabbitte said.
“I want to assure the deputies that I am well aware of the burdens that have been imposed on society as a result of the restrictions that have been imposed,” he said.
Many people have not been able to live their lives as they normally would or participate in the usual rhythms of their community, and I know that every day many people in Ireland have not been able to go to a local church. It has been particularly difficult during this period of Lent and also during Holy Week ”.
“Unfortunately, as members of the Chamber know, the environment in which Covid spreads most easily is indoors, where a group of people gather.”
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath said the right to worship was a sensitive and important issue for tens of thousands of people and criticized the restrictions on gatherings.
“This cabinet will go down in history as the most anti-Christian government cabinet of all time,” McGrath said.
Similarly, Laois-Offaly TD Carol Nolan said that it is “fundamentally wrong to deny the people of Ireland the right to attend mass, service or worship, depending on their religion.”
“This government should be fair to the people and show some compassion,” Nolan said.
“It is a very dark time for many, so why not give them the comfort of attending their churches?” He said.
“We are in a very serious situation. I think it was very bad to ban public worship and it was very unfair to people. “
The independent TDs of Cork South-West, Michael Collins and Limerick, Richard O’Donoghue, also supported the reopening of churches.
Collins said “next week is a very important week on the church calendar” and that it is “annoying for people to think they can’t get into their own churches.”
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“It is a shameful act and it is time for this government to sit down and step back and not be so anti-church,” he said.
O’Donoghue asked, “Is this government anti-religious?”
“This government needs to stand up. Let people worship like we always did, ”O’Donoghue said.
The TDs referenced a court case in Scotland that found that Covid-19 regulations went beyond the legal by restricting places of worship, allowing them to reopen.
Under current Irish restrictions, places of worship may open for private prayer, but services must be conducted online.
Attendance at funerals is limited to ten people.
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