Opposition politicians have branded the legislation around indoor dining as "illogical, stupid and unworkable".
Members of the Oireachtas Health Committee say they're totally unhappy with the detail given by health officials on the bill.
The committee was briefed by officials this morning on the legislation, with opposition TDs saying there was no real detail given on how the restrictions on indoor dining will be enforced.
Many, including Labour's Alan Kelly, believe it's unworkable.
He said: "I can't fathom it... why a Government would actually go down this road with an unenforceable, unworkable and discriminatory piece of legislation.
"It would be far easier to use the COVID travel cert as the mechanism by which you open up indoor dining and hospitality, which we support."
Independent TD Mattie McGrath and other Rural Independents are submitting a motion to stop any discrimination between who can and can't dine indoors.
He argued: "It's just totally illogical and stupid and unworkable... and fanciful, really."
Danny Healy Rae arrives to say he’s against the indoor dining legislation.
Mattie McGrath interrupts him: “We haven’t seen it yet”
DHR: “What?”
MM: “We haven’t seen it yet” pic.twitter.com/ZcW6p8sMJg— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 13, 2021
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, meanwhile, says it's not something that should be "rammed" through this week.
He said it's not acceptable to rush the legislation through the Dáil and Seanad, and they should sit next week if that's needed to give the bill the proper scrutiny.
The Health Committee agreed to waive the usual pre-legislative scrutiny of this bill by a margin of eight votes to six, meaning it will now head to the Dáil for the next stage.
While opposition members of the committee voted against the decision, the Government had enough votes to ensure it passed.
Under the proposals, there will be fines of up to €2,500 for forged vaccine documents or for premises that are not checking certs.
Compliance officers from the HSE and HSA will monitor this, although there have been concerns about inspections and enforcement.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says inspection won’t be a 9 to 5, Mondy to Friday job.
However, he believes the industry itself will take the new rules "very, very seriously".
