It is not for Government to tell young people how to regulate their social lives, the Minister said.
Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has said people of all ages need to use their “cop on” when it comes to Covid-19, while praising young people for their sacrifices throughout the pandemic.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of the enhanced CAO website which went live at 12pm on Friday (5 November) and now includes Further Education and Apprenticeship options for school leavers.
During the launch, Harris was quizzed over NPHET’s comments earlier in the week calling on the public to wind back on their social contacts and young people to reduce the number of times they go to nightclubs.
Asked if he urges third level students to frequent nightclubs less, he replied:
“Look, I think it’s not for the Government to stand up on a podium and tell young people how to regulate their social lives in a Living with Covid phase, right, because that’s where we’re now at.
“We’re now at the phase where people have gone out, they’ve gotten fully vaccinated. I would still reiterate the call to anyone who has not yet fully gotten vaccinated to do so.
“Because I’ve seen when I’ve visited college campuses and visited pop-up vaccination clinics, students and others coming forward for their first time.
“They’re not anti-vaxxers. Just for whatever reason, they hadn’t gotten around to being fully vaccinated.”
In terms of cutting back contacts, the Minister said “it’s not an age debate”.
“All people need to use their common sense, their cop on and I think the point the Chief Medical Officer was making is we know how the virus spreads… in certain environments, it’s easier for it to spread.
“Environments where you’re not keeping your distance, where you’re not wearing your mask, it’s more likely to spread.”
Harris added that he believes young people in Ireland have been “extraordinary” throughout the pandemic “in the restraint they’ve shown” and in “the things they’ve sacrificed to save lives”.
“I’d have every confidence that, as has been the case throughout this pandemic, the majority of people will try and do the right thing the majority of the time”,
Main image via Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie
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