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WHILE IT’S DAY one for Leo Varadkar, another TD is also starting a new job today.
Independent Alliance TD Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is taking over as Minister of State at the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The switch-over between the current junior minister Sean Canney and Moran was part of the agreement reached during the discussions on the formation of government.
Canney, a Galway TD, has held the ministry since last May.
It’s understood the pair flipped a coin to decide who would take up the first stint. In another unorthodox move, the official handover is being done at an event in Moran’s local pub in Athlone tonight.
“Sean is coming out to do the official handover, so that will be a bit of craic. I am very grateful for that,” Moran told TheJournal.ie.
Relatively unknown to many outside his Longford-Westmeath constituency, the TD was recently thrust into the spotlight after a raw and candid interview he gave to Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ’s Late Late Show.
Moran spoke openly about how his struggles with dyslexia and depression led to a suicide attempt when he was a young man.
Since his appearance last month, he has received overwhelming support from the public. He believes Irish people appreciate that he is a straightforward guy.
“People said to me after the Late Late Show, that they like that I am a normal spoken person. I speak ordinary language. What causes problems for TDs is when people don’t know what they are talking about. Why do they use a 15-page speech when it can be done in two?” he added.
Since raising the issue of illiteracy, Moran said a lot of people have been in touch to tell them their stories.
“A guy rang me who recently went for a job to be a driving instructor. He has severe dyslexia. He needs to get something like 63% in the written exam – all he got was 41%. He tried again and all he got was 43%.
“He can’t get the next bit. There is nobody there to help him, and he is just one example. That is what puts people like him back and he stays on the Dole. We need to reach out to people like that.”
He said this is just one example that he is raising with his Independent Alliance colleague Minister for Transport Shane Ross.
‘We need to help these people’
“We have the best qualified people out there that have small little problems and we need to reach out to them. He should be able to say, ‘I have a problem, what is there out there to help me to overcome this?’ We need to get these people out into the workplace.
Our own people want to work and we are stopping them because we are not helping them.
The new minister said the interview was motivated by a wish to address gossip circulating around Leinster House regarding his education.
“Since I’ve got to the Dáil, I’ve heard rumblings on and off in relation to my education. People have been condemning the government, and I heard one particular person saying (on the radio) ‘if you want to sum up this Dáil, we’ve an incoming minister that hasn’t even got his Junior Cert’.”
He told TheJournal.ie that he spoke out about his issues with literacy to show people it shouldn’t hold you back in whatever you want to do in life.
“Yes, I have difficulties with reading but I am combating that. I work on it every day. It’s hard work. For people who are out there who have it, they know what it is like. But I am not going to let it get me down as a minister. I am streetwise – I am as clever a man you will ever meet,” he said.
Help of a great team
So, what are the practical tasks that can make each day harder, and how does he overcome them?
I have a great team around me and my advisor, Eugene, who has been with me right through my career in politics. He was there for me, he got to know me. And also my own staff. I have great staff working for me, who know the issues I have. Yes I have issues, but it hasn’t stopped me.
Moran said he also owes a debt of gratitude to his wife.
“Michelle would sit with me all night if she had to to get things right,” he explains.
“We do a lot of reading and we do a lot of back research, putting stuff down on paper and reading it out loud. We choose the words to suit Boxer,” he explained.
One of the challenges Moran faces consistently is standing up and reading a speech in the Dáil.
The big issue I have is – before I go into the Dáil to make a speech – I have to have it three or four days before anyone else. There is no issue with that. But I make mistakes, I made mistakes speaking in the Dáil yesterday. A friend rang me and told me: ‘I am going to kill you. I told you, one page for you.’
She’s right. She told me that I am in charge of my own ministry, and to do what’s right for me. I can’t hide that there is an issue there, but I can’t but get on with my job.
His suicide attempt
Since speaking publicly about his suicide attempt, Moran said he has been inundated with people getting in touch to commend him for being so open. They are also sharing their own experiences.
He said both a mother and her son who watched the Friday night interview together wrote separate emails to Moran, not knowing about the other’s correspondence.
The son wrote and told me that his marriage broke up, he lost his house, he lost his job, everything went wrong for him, he was in a very bad place. He had bad thoughts. He explained to me in his email that he felt like ending it. He told me he had sat down to watch the Late Late Show that night and it helped.
That woman contacted me a week and a half later to say that everything is still going well for him. She said to me, ‘All I can say to you is thanks.’
Moran said other people have confided in him to say his words allowed them to be frank with their own families.
One man came all the way from County Meath to tell me he had done something similar – only he [had] done harm to himself. He told me the night of the interview was the first time he had told any of his family what he had done.
Moran explained his decision to appear on the country’s most-watched show meant he had to be honest with a lot of people he is close to.
“I had to sit down and tell my own family, to tell my own kids. Some of my own brothers, who didn’t know – that is how much we kept this quiet. But by telling the country what happened, I have now opened doors,” he said, adding:
I am not saying this for any glory for Boxer… Some people give out about politicians – maybe they’re right – but other people know the hard work we do… I have to give credit to Leo [Varadkar] as well. He spoke in one of the papers about the worry he had when he first came out that he was gay. To me that is what we are about. If we all talked more, if we all reach out to each other, we can overcome this.
So what next for the new minister?
He has a long to-do list.
His top priority is dealing with the flooding issues around the country and works along the River Shannon, as well as ensuring that children are allowed in free to Ireland’s heritage sites (something he is in discussions about with the OPW) Moran said he also wants to investigate the UK system of flood insurance (which imposes a levy on insurance companies) to see if it is workable in Ireland.
“A lot of people went for this job – I just have to get on with it now.”
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I get the feeling the reason there is such a high surge in tests is because the government have waived the fee to the GP so every Tom Dick and Harry are calling unnecessary to see if the have it. People need to wake up and leave the test for the people who really have the symptoms and need to be tested. Just because it’s free dosent mean you take it.
@Olivia Smith:
But aren’t people even more contagious before symptoms? While I appreciate the sheer volume of the tests required, if anybody who wanted a test could have one, maybe we could have even less transmission?
@Olivia Smith: every “tom dick and harry” might be ringing the doctor because it’s free, which i highly doubt, but it is the doctors call whether to refer people for testing or not, based on symptoms reported! So have a bit of cop on and a little less bitchy.
@Olivia Smith: I don’t think you can just rock up to the doc unless you meet the profile for testing. This means that the backlog is made up of people who are symptomatic which is worrying in itself. We definitely need to speed up the turnaround of testing in order to fight this. Best advice is to stay at home if possible and avoid other people.
@Olivia Smith: 80% of cases are mild, they need to be identified, quarantined, and contacts traced and isolated. Best to have a negative test than people go undiagnosed.
https://i.imgur.com/edjdYnJ.jpg
The more undiagnosed cases walking around the worse the epidemic.
Diagnosing only severe cases, at hospital, was the approach the UK proposed but it was abandoned after scientists at Imperial College London pointed out it would cause ~250,000 deaths.
@John O’Brien: You don’t rock up anywhere you call. And that’s the issue. Free call as sure I’ll do it just in case
@David Jordan: I have a family member waiting for a test. Was symptomatic since last Friday. Didn’t want to block up testing if wasn’t positive. Felt well again and then Tuesday woke up as bad as was Friday. Nobody who had a sniffle should make that call to the GP
@Marie Broomfield: No sorry I won’t have a bit more cop on. I have a family member showing more than 1 symptom since Friday a wks go. Didn’t want to ring the GP in case they took up time for someone who needed it. Felt better then woke up Tuesday as bad. Took all day Wednesday to get through to the GP and still waiting for a date for test. So I’d say you and the wasters need to COP on.?
@Mary Walshe: No as I said just because it’s free dosent mean you take it. If a shop was giving out free stuff and it was stuff you didn’t need would you take it because it was free?
@Olivia Smith: you don’t seem to understand that it is the doctor who refers people for the test. know you must be worried but so are alot of other people. if you;re family member has it, they have it, a test won’t change that. ring for an ambulance if you feel they are not doing well. I and my family are waiting for that call too, it’s been 4 days and we are mostly starting to feel better. i tried to cancel the test, not wanting to waste time or resources but couldn’t. Doc said it was important for other people that we get tested. Everyone is in the same boat! let’s try not to overturn it.
@Olivia Smith: Not wanting to “block up” testing is ridiculous.
@Marie Broomfield: Are you thick? I’m saying people can’t get through to GPs because of idiots taking up all their time talking to someone with a runny nose. So this makes it harder to get tested and brings testing times longer
@Darren Sheridan: Really? I think that’s a responsible way to think,
@Olivia Smith: The last guidance is anyone with symptoms should be tested if the doctor confirms they fit, so we can find the cases and trace them, and understand the spread. It’s up to a doctor to triage and determine if the sniffle is relevant. You making people feel bad for asking to be assessed doesn’t support the current action plan. An ignored sniffle could mean contacts may not be traced, contacts that could include one of the high risk individuals, or someone who gets the severe version. Let’s let them do their job as they need to, as they have been advised to by those better educated than most of us on how to deal with this, and put up with our wait. Anyone with severe issues can ring for further help, for an ambulance, etc.
@Olivia Smith: man you’re a nasty piece of work..you’re step on your granny to save yourself. I.hope they lose your number.
@Olivia Smith: A nice concerned person? With those words you’re disgusting.
@Olivia Smith: needs to be a bit more cop on in your household. Waiting 5 days before trying to get a test because they didn’t feel too bad is just an “I’m fine so that’s all that matters” attitude.
They will run out of tests quicker than they will run out of money to pay Ms. Doherty and her co workers their 2k per week while the rest of us now have to survive on 200 quid a week.
@Joe Davis: is it all down to
Money with you get a grip on yourself
@Joe Davis: So are you saying that everyone should receive 2k throughout this pandemic? Handy way to bankrupt a country. Glad you’re not in charge!
@Mike Daly: Well, it’s not “all” down to money but money is extremely extremely important in every aspect of the current crisis.
@Mike Daly: it’s just annoying that after working for 30 years solid and paying some amount of tax that its 200 a week and thats that. If you think its fair that no politican or majority in the public sector will not be down a penny well fair enough. I just don’t see any fairness in that.
@FartyTowels: why am I a dope.
@Joe Davis: If they don’t get paid the bucks nobody would want to be in politics and if you have no government you basically have no country. There is only something like 52 TD’s in comparison to millions of civilians. What do you expect? Your full salary every week. Don’t be silly now
@Joe Davis: always the tool!
@Joe Davis: Sure why not give the entire population their full salary while we’re at it! Country would be bankrupt in a week. It might not be much but it’s a hell of a lot more than you get in other countries. To be fair I can’t really fault the Government in how they have handled this whole situation.
@Joe Davis: Sure we might aswell pay the entire population their full salary while we’re at it! Country would be bankrupt in a week. It may not be much but it’s a hell of a lot more than you get in other countries. To be fair I can’t fault the Government in their response to this situation so far.
Will you run out of ventilators though Minister and will it be a case of doctors having to decide who does because of lack of ventilators?
@Block a Tron: and general PPE like masks and aprons will be in short supply globally, they are normally manufactured in china the country that brings you most things these days including the current virus.
@Block a Tron: my pharmacy has run out of Panadol. Many things will be in short supply.
@Block a Tron: Well if people stayed home like their being told to and adhere to social distancing then we might not run out of the essentials that people need to help them survive. Just stay away from public areas and do as we’re being asked. It’s for our own good.
@Gerkygirl: *they’re
@Block a Tron: They might just have to so let’s do our bit not to put them in that position!
@Chin Feeyin: Panadol can be got in most shops, I’m sure there is plenty of it around. These stories causes pains and results in more panic buying.
@Block a Tron: every country will run out of ventilators.
Just stay home people!!!
Failed to prepare even though they knew about the virus in December.
@FartyTowels: accurate.
My Aunt’s house partner is waiting since last Saturday for a test and she’s in her 70’s , living in Dublin
@Gigi Power: House partner????? Is that what they call it these days.?
@Cian: they are retired nuns. Thanks
@Cian: what business is it of yours? Twit
8 days and counting for a test
@miju irl: In all fairness, if you are still here after 8 days and have the energy to post comments here, the chances are you actually don’t need the test at all whether you have the virus or not. Simply self isolate for 14 days and until you are 100% and leave the test to those who really need it.
@Luke Windak: people need it to do community tracing. But sure.
@Luke Windak: up until yesterday I was severely out of breath going up stairs.
With GPs not seeing people with respiratory symptoms it’s near impossible to get prescription. Luckily Leya health virtual GP sorted me yesterday with strong steroids and an inhaler to make it alot easier to breath.
But please do continue assuming you know enough to post a smart arsed comment about testing delays.
@Luke Windak: I’ve seen people suffering with it post daily vlogs. Tom Hanks tweeted about playing card games with his wife. What makes you think it would prevent someone from posting a comment?
@Luke Windak: Thanks Luke. Where did you get your medical degree again?
@miju irl: Take no notice of Luke, they’l always be the odd clown.
@Dermot Foley: Not if they were self isolating as soon as they got cold symptoms as per HSE guidance
@miju irl: sorry to hear that and it’s great u r feeling better now I wasn’t trying to come across as a pr*ck. Was only saying that if u r already feeling better and were self isolating since the start, getting tested now won’t really change much.
Having said all that, waiting 5 days is unacceptable as most people will either get better on their own or end up in hospital by that stage
It’s not good at all to be waiting 5 dates for a date not a mind a test. People are now simply requesting a referrals froms GP knowing it will be a week minimum until they tested so if they don’t have it now it will piece of know knowing a test is booked for future. It’s not good enough..
@Brian: unless you have serious symptoms does it really matter if you are tested straight away? If you have symptoms you are supposed to be self isolating anyway. If your symptoms becoming worrying while waiting for your test you can call 999
@Brian: a GP isn’t going to refer someone unless they fall into the category
@Sam Harms: the problem with the delay in testing isn’t with the person themselves, it’s the contact tracing. Myself and partner are waiting on tests since Monday, in the week to 10 days previous we visited family in Cork, had both been on separate nights out with friends, she had been to work and we both had been to several supermarkets.
That’s over a hundred people (if not more) we’ve been in contact with. Already all those people have been mixing as normal, or a limited amount with social distancing. Contact tracing only works if tests are carried out quickly. Otherwise they might as well not bother testing people and put the effort into hospitals and a complete lockdown nationwide
@Sam Harms: 80% of cases are mild, they need to be identified, quarantined, and contacts traced and isolated.
Diagnosing only severe cases, at hospital, was the approach the UK proposed but that was abandoned after scientists at Imperial College London pointed out it would cause ~250,000 deaths.
@Sam Harms: yes it matters because you could have been in contact with someone and they should know as soon as possible meanwhile you have self isolated but your contacts have not therefore possibly infecting more people
Men are dying worldwide much more than woman “Italian health authorities last week reported that among 13,882 cases of COVID-19 and 803 deaths between Feb. 21 and Mar. 12, men accounted for 58% of all cases and 72% of deaths. For woman findings strongly suggest that there’s something about estrogen that protects against the ravages of deadly coronaviruses” https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-21/why-is-the-coronavirus-more-deadly-for-men-than-for-women
@GO GREEN: normally female hormones scourge them for life, in this instance perhaps we get a slight advantage
@Emer Caffrey: Yes, the facts are clear for whatever reason, woman have a better chance of surviving this virus.
@GO GREEN: all deaths in under 40s in Italy have been men.
@GO GREEN: If it’s estrogen protecting women then the numbers for postmenopausal, but not elderly,female victims would also be higher, surely?
I wonder have they had any evidence yet of this?
@AA Brady: Makes sense, clearly scientists do not know the reason why more men are dying of this virus.
WHEN DID THAT EVER TELL THE TRUTH, WOULDN’T BELIEVE A WORD OUT OF HER MOUTH
@Pauline Fedigan: call the doc, I think this one has a fever!
@Marie Broomfield: and her Caps Lock is stuck!
Okay so I understand why there is a delay in doing tests but why the massive delay in giving out the test results? I was tested last Tuesday and have still heard nothing back. It’s a little bit concerning that our health service is currently at probably the least busiest they have been in decades and they still cant get it together. What are they going to do when it actually gets busy.
@sally: Health service at their least busiest???? Right!
Are the streets being sprayed like in other countries?
Not even a hint of when Monaghan might get a testing centre. It’s a complete farce. Italy told us it was coming and we didn’t listen. Mental stuff.
I’m a doctor looking after cancer patients. I took ill last Thursday at work fever cough loss of taste and smell. Contacted HSE and went into self isolation. Still waiting to be tested. Nobody has contacted me
@Aktham Sharif: Get well soon!
If you have symptoms or suspect you have the virus, call HSE and they can get you tested as a priority.
In a perfect world we would test everyone, isolate the virus and it would be gone, but that’s not possible, so please don’t panic buy, horde masks or take tests for the craic, for the moment the focus is on finding the virus and isolating it and that means prioritizing people with symptoms first.
Be mindful of our limited resources and capacity. Don’t take or use anything you don’t need. Ask yourself, is it important I take up this medical facility and professionals time when we are over capacity? Sometimes the answer will be yes, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the question.
Check in on old and vulnerable.
I’m off to the bunker lads. Stay safe and I’ll see some of ye post apocalypse.
Yes everyone should be tested, but with a plan in place. If no symptoms register by text with name DOB and eircode. The system then process applications by alabethical or by age. The person sent a text with an appointment for their local test centre but bring photo ID. No ID no test.
have your say