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IN FEBRUARY 2017, there were 6,729 Airbnb listings in Dublin, but now that figure is roughly 7,300.
Just under half of them are entire homes or apartments. While certainly not the cause of the housing crisis, campaigners say the prominence of Airbnb properties in specific areas of Dublin is helping to make the problem worse.
They say the areas of Dublin 1, 2, 7 and 8 are those most affected, both in terms of the current housing shortage, and the large number of Airbnbs available in those areas.
John-Mark McCafferty, CEO of national housing charity Threshold, told TheJournal.ie that, during a time of “historically low supply” in the private rental sector, “Airbnb is taking up a share of units that would otherwise” be in the private market.
Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, meanwhile, said there’s a “real frustration” with government’s lack of action on the issue, despite it being flagged for at least two years now.
Adverse effect
Home-sharing services such as Airbnb have become very popular in recent years. According to a recent report published by the company, there were over 8,500 overall listings in 2017 in Dublin county and city, earning its hosts €68 million.
Last June, however, Dublin City Council said Airbnb is having an “adverse effect” on the rental market in the capital.
Among those flagging concerns, there is a recognition that Airbnb is not a problem in many parts of the country. It is only a problem where there are acute housing shortages and high rents, with the areas of Dublin 1, 2, 7 and 8 singled out in particular.
They’ve been designated rent pressure zones, due to the high cost, and are also subject to high levels of demand as economic activity increases in Dublin.
These areas encompass the city centre in locations such as Dorset Street, Mountjoy Square, Mary Street, Dame Street, Grafton Street and Wexford Street. Further out, it also covers parts of Cabra, Phibsborough, Smithfield, Stoneybatter, Inchicore, Kilmainham and Portobello.
According to figures from Daft.ie, there are currently 347 properties to rent in these postcodes of Dublin.
And, according to figures from Inside Airbnb, there were 2,672 full homes or apartments listed on the short-term rental platform last year in the area covered by Dublin City Council with a vast majority located within these postcodes.
Of these, it was estimated that the these places were rented out on Airbnb an average of 113 nights a year. Furthermore, over half of the properties were listed for 90 days or more in a year.
According to figures from Daft.ie’s Q4 2017 report, the average rent for home in these areas were among the highest in Dublin, with Dublin 2 costing €1,750 for a one bed apartment.
A similar property in Dublin 1 cost €1,503, in Dublin 7 cost €1,432 and in Dublin 8 cost €1,501. Even taking into account bigger properties, a 3-bed house would earn on average between €1,800 and €2,400 in this market.
Digging a bit deeper into the Inside Airbnb figures, it estimates that the average income for people renting out a full apartment of house in Dublin city is €1,268. While this is less than a landlord would get from a full-time tenant, it is further estimated that the residences are only rented out an average of 31% of the time.
So, by allowing a property to be rented out roughly a third of a month on Airbnb, for example, a landlord could make almost as much from a full-time tenant in these areas of Dublin.
TheJournal.ie checked the Airbnb site to book an entire home or apartment for three people for a week in April. The first, in Dublin 1, cost €1,200 for the week. One in Dublin 7 cost €470 for just three nights. With the cost to tourists of renting these properties, campaigners say it clearly shows the incentive to potential landlords to opt for Airbnb.
Threshold’s McCafferty said that the increase in Airbnb properties in these areas is a matter of “real concern”.
“We need more consistent data on this,” he said. “But it’s a concern for us that in a period of unprecedented demand, low supply and increased rents, that a significant share of entire homes are given over to Airbnb.”
McCafferty emphasised that the charity has no issue with Airbnb as a model for people to rent our spare rooms or their homes when they’re not there to supplement their income, but that it is whole homes – houses or apartments – let out on the platform for a significant amount of time is a problem.
He said: “The current crisis isn’t being caused by Airbnb, but it isn’t helping the supply.
From a policy perspective, we want to see policies that will support landlords to retain entire units in the private rental sector. We don’t want policy actively pushing landlords out of the private sector.
McCafferty said that while Airbnb has argued it isn’t displacing potential homes that could be used by private renters, it was “incumbent on statutory agencies to have as objective a picture as possible” and to look at the “pressure points in the system”.
He suggested looking at the amount of time in which a property is rented out a year, and discouraging and disincentivising property owners from choosing to let them out long-term on Airbnb, rather than taking on private tenants.
He said: “It’s not desirable for the Airbnb model to be killed off or fundamentally undermined, what is important is the balance.
We need to do it in such a way that is good for consumers, but doesn’t in any way detract from the supply of long-term lets.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin said that the main issue that has arisen is from “commercial short-term letting landlords who engage in short-term letting as a business”.
He said that the Oireachtas Housing Committee, which he is part of, made clear recommendations about what action should be taken to prevent abuse of the system.
“The government needs to have a two-tier system,” Ó Broin said. “You have the genuine people letting out their room for a period of time – and you’d apply a light form of regulation.
But if it is a commercial venture, you’d have to seek some form of planning permission, where a request would need to be made and a local authority would consider whether it is appropriate.
He called for clarity to be given to city and county councils about what measures are appropriate, and that implementing a number of days after which it is not acceptable to rent out a home on short-term let could provide that surety.
“That’s the distinction then between a genuine home – the time you let out your property, whether that be 60 days or 90,” he said. Ó Broin said that anyone who rents out via short-term lets like Airbnb more than that should require planning permission to do so, and it is there that local authorities could take appropriate action.
As to enforcing this, the Dublin Mid-West TD called for the creation of a licensing regime, whereby data could be collected about the person’s income from Airbnb, how many days the property is let out for, how many nights it is available etc, and this would be provided by Airbnb itself.
“Under this, the genuine homesharer wouldn’t require planning permission,” Ó Broin said. “Hard-pressed working families will be able to make a few bob. But this system will weed out these commercial short-term letters operating under the guise of a genuine rental.”
Fianna Fáil have also made proposals to fix the problem, submitting new legislation that would see a dwelling undergoing “material change in use of the property” if it is used as short-term accommodation for 90 days or more in a year, as opposed to Sinn Féin’s 60 days
It also provides for the owner of the property being required to register each time it is rented out on a short-term basis. To date, however, this legislation has not been enacted.
Government action
The government has been urged to legislate for these short-term lets in many quarters, and it has recognised this need.
In a circular sent to the chief executives of city and county councils last October, the Housing Department said that “the growing use of online platforms may, if not adequately regulated, facilitate and encourage” the trend of properties being removed from the long-term rental market.
The department recommended that apartments will require commercial planning permission to be used as short-term lets, which is restricted for up to 60 nights a year. The letter also states that owners should not be allowed to rent their properties for more than five nights in a row.
It said the use of online platforms “may encourage” landlords to seek higher returns by ceasing residential letting and moving to short-term letting to tourists. This matter was described as one of “significant concern”.
However, Airbnb deny this is the case, telling an Oireachtas committee on Housing in June that their service is not exacerbating Dublin’s housing crisis as only small numbers of bookings are used for long-term lets.
Airbnb’s director of public policy Patrick Robinson outlined a series of stats on Airbnb hosts to committee members, claiming that the vast majority of hosters were people offering up space in their own homes to earn a bit of extra money.
Nonetheless, committee members also criticised the company for having an “adverse” affect on the capital’s rental market.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, the Department of Housing said it had established a working group last year – which has met five times – to develop guidance in relation to planning applications, changes of use relating to short-term lettings and to examine the need for new regulatory arrangements.
It said this group is now working on “proposals for an appropriate comprehensive regulatory approach” for short-term tourism-related lettings. It said its circular provided guidance on planning applications related to short-term lettings.
While B&Bs are exempt from seeking planning permission under current laws, but this exemption does not cover a flat, apartment or any other dwelling in such a building.
Planning permission is still required for these premises, which are often used for Airbnb rental, the department said.
It added: “This guidance is a first step, and is not expected, or intended, to resolve all the issues related to short term letting.”
This working group is now developing proposals for the “broader licensing and regulatory approach” which have yet to be finalised.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Sinn Féin’s Ó Broin said now is the time to take action.
“Places like Stoneybatter and Smithfield were getting more expensive anyway,” he said. “But places like Mountjoy Square traditionally had lower rents. And once supply runs out, and prices go up, they’re never going to go back down.
We don’t need primary legislation to make these changes needed. They could be done tomorrow. Having this go on for so long now without real change is a real source of frustration.
With reporting from Christina Finn
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Still plenty with no masks on buses this morning. Says a lot about Irish society.
@Sal Paradise: So how is the driver going to enforce this? Is he/she physically going to eject people from the bus thereby putting themselves at risk of assault by a passenger who will not wear a mask? Are the Gardai working with Dublin Bus in case these situations arise? The last time i looked, An Garda did NOT have a ‘Public Transport Division’ This has the makings of a disaster and is being rushed through by TD’s that DON’T rely on or use public transport.This is not a decision by Dublin Bus for health reasons,It’s a financial decision by Dublin Bus to try and claw back money they lost when this whole malarkey started.
@Daragh: don’t be stupid, don’t call people sheep because they are smarter than you. Just because they don’t use poor sources for their opinions. There is plenty of data showing facemasks work to prevent the spread. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
@John Coffey: if you bothered to read the article you would have gotten your answer. Drivers are not expected to police this and people won’t be ejected from the bus. But in few weeks fines will be brought in for people who insist on being inconsiderate
@Daragh: Wow! Grade A Clown
@Daragh: it’s about common decency, masks aren’t about prevent you from getting the virus, there about prevent you from spreading it to other. Studies have already shown the virus can survive airborne.
I have no doubt you were one of the people spouting nonsense about the virus being overblown a couple months ago.
Be a decent person.
@John Coffey: buss drivers don’t continue the journey until the passenger follows the driver directions. I’m sure it’d be passengers given spare masks and we give spare coins. And there is inspectors. People sound of mind do what they have been told by the driver for pure embarrassment of holding everyone. With people unsound of mind, it depends but most of the times, kindness win.
In other countries disposable masks were given to passengers the first weeks, until they got the habit and get their own non disposable mask.
@Michael Bodycoach: sending me a propoganda article doesn’t change my mind. Masks are ineffective, and actually cause harm to healthy people breathing in their own toxic co2. Dr Fauci said they were useless
@Daragh:
Exactly correct Daragh they actually are very bad for your health
@Diarmuid Moore:
I won’t pay any fine
@Pat D’Arcy:
It’s overblown in Ireland anyway
@Daragh:
Absolutely but sure let the idiots off it’s their own problem sure
@Maria Quinn:
And tell me how do in China and Korea the rate of infection is going up don’t they all wear masks everywhere even walking down the street
Doesn’t seem to be doing them much good now does it this mask wearing nonsense??
@ciaran carroll: so what about nurses, doctors, construction workers and all other professions required to wear them? Where is this evidence they are ineffective?
@Daragh:
Yes totally agree
@Michael Bodycoach:
Nurses and doctors are different as they are dealing with very sick people whose immune system is very weak in a hospital setting as they could have a various different illness that’s different to people out in society with nothing wrong with them walking around like idiots with masks on them
The human body has an immune system so use it it actually works masks don’t
@ciaran carroll: your stupid China and Korea claim has been debunked repeatedly but you’re still pushing it.
@Dave O’Keeffe:
Explain how it’s debunked
Sure aren’t they all wearing masks and there are new outbreaks there
Am I missing something?
@Daragh: the WHO never said asymptomatic people don’t spread it. One person within the WHO said it was less likely to spread from asymptomatic people, which was caught up as indicating it would be spread by asymptomatic people – something she clarified was not the case. There is plenty of international evidence to show that even asymptomatic people can spread the virus.
@ciaran carroll: The current outbreak in China, in Beijing, was caused by frozen meat imported from Germany. Someone in Germany, not wearing a mask, coughed on the meat. The contaminated meat was traced back to a slaughterhouse in Germany where 650 out of 1000 staff caught the virus.
The outbreak in Korea was traced in nightclubs, where people were not wearing masks.
https://time.com/5834991/south-korea-coronavirus-nightclubs/
@David Jordan:
So when they open nightclubs here do you think people will be wearing masks or social distancing?
No slow sets now please
Did someone see that German coughing on the meat in China?
What a load of nonsense
@Daragh: If you are sick and showing any of the symptoms of this virus you should be at home and isolating, not riding around on public transport regardless of whether you have a mask or not.
@John Coffey: Public transport goes beyond Dublin.
@Daragh: So you know better than the collective expertise of the Mayo Clinic Daragh? That’s pretty funny.
@Sal Paradise: Those who don’t like masks are really not going to like the ventilator!
@Dietrich Död: I don’t believe propoganda articles. And yes I am probably more intelligent than most at the Mayo Clinic.
@Daragh: and Ciaran, you’re pretty bad trolls, probably the same person. Be better people, maybe go out and help a person today, might make you feel less miserable.
@ciaran carroll: oh so masks DO work??? Interesting “volte face” there. You never stop saying masks don’t work. Now they do. Can’t be both matey.
@Daragh: Probably because you drove to Mayo once but couldn’t find the clinic, so it must be fake.
@Daragh: Assymptomatic and presymptomatic can pass on the virus by coughing or sneezing for other reasons, clearing throat or hayfever for example. Now cop on and put it on. That you Ciaran/Dino?
@Pat D’Arcy: Ciaran can’t keep the argument straight anyway. He goes from he can’t as he is asmathic even though he advocates stuff no other asthmathic I know advocates, to he won’t because it is unhygienic even though what’s on the inside of the mask is his own to straight out pig ignorance and to hell with everybody else.
@Sal Paradise: And it makes the likes of you happy to have something to moan about.
@Michael Bodycoach: Lot of questions there. Article says details being worked on. Not sure why we might assume it’s the driver would enforce it. Good to see many people wearing them already. Huge resistance to masks in some countries. Not working out well for them. We can do it!. If we wear them nobody will be making money from fines and we are all winners, especially the vulnerable afraid to take the bus at the moment.
Don’t let people on bus without facemasks. Plane and simple. If they refused to get off, don’t move the bus. Call the Garda. Public health comes first.
@Michael: what about every other Joe and Jane soap on the bus who is wearing a face covering and are being prevented from getting to work. Drivers lard not going to wait or tell the passenger not to get on or off kas it causes too much agro
@Michael: I’ve never travelled on a simple before
@Michael: there would be nobody at work. The network would grind to a halt.
@ciaran carroll:
If you don’t like a mask you are really not going to like the ventilator!
@Michael: I agree with you totally. I was on a bus earlier today and of the eight people sitting downstairs only two were wearing face masks. I kind of felt that some of them were defying me say something. There is a sign on the outside of the door asking people to wear masks. Can we not just for once do what we are asked to do and keep each other safe?
@Paul Power: I agree, I still say no mask get off the bus
@ciaran carroll: don’t know how make you sick. It’s about not making others sick. Walk cycle to wherever your going to
@NotaWarder: That’s rubbish pure rubbish, I wear them all the time and I do not get nauseous from it. That is not how hypoxia happens
Excellent. We’re taking the piss a little bit in enclosed spaces at the moment. In blanch yesterday and it was shocking the lack of people protecting themselves. It’s a face mask, just pop it on.
@Michael Bodycoach: I’m assuming that the onus is being put on the driver of the bus to enforce this unenforcable rule. What if someone boards a bus and does not have a mask. Are Dublin Bus going to supply them? What if the passenger refuses to get off the bus? What does the driver do then? Will the Gardai be getting involved with disputes on public transport even though we do not have a Garda Public Transport Division? Did Leo and others really think this through? No they didn’t. It’s about money at the end of the day. More passengers equals more money. Health decision me hole!
@John Coffey: the fine is a deterrent. How do you stop people drink driving. Ban/fine/prison… Does it stop everyone? No… Does it deter most… Yes. Can the bus driver deny people access to the bus. Of course. Can they call gardai in extreme cases, of course. Your “money grab” comment is ridiculous. You don’t want to wear it, don’t wear it. Get your fine. I’ll be happy with that to keep my family safe.
@John Coffey: as I asked before, have you ever seen what happens when someone is smoking on the bus?
@John Coffey: the people in charge never think anything through, that’s the problem.
@Michael Bodycoach: Another scaremonger who believes that a piece of paper is going to save the world. God help us.
@John Coffey: “a piece of paper is going to save us”. Your level of ignorance is hilarious. I guess surgeon’s shouldn’t wear them when performing operations. I guess builders shouldn’t wear them to avoid inhaling dust. If you need God to help you, don’t wear it, get the fine. I’m sure he’ll fix the bill for you.
@John Coffey: I am guessing you don’t really get how the virus spreads in enclosed spaces do you…..do a little reading it helps in life.
@John Coffey:
Yes exactly
Masks don’t work it’s a money racket sure aren’t the cases of Covid all going up again in China and Korea and don’t they all wear masks over there?
Doesn’t seem to be doing them any good now does it? Brainwashing and a total money racket
@Michael Bodycoach:
Surgeons are different as there are dealing with all types of infection and carpenters are different when working with dust
as you are inhaling it in a concentrated area
Ridiculous comparison
@ciaran carroll: OK, and one infection could be… Let’s say… Covid-19. But I guess that goes against your narrative. Another infection which they use it for is the flu, which is extremely similar to covid in terms of spreading. If for a construction worker it’s different because they are inhaling dust particles, surely that doesn’t actually stop the particles? Oh wait it does, because it’s scientifically proven to. Just like it’s proven that face masks reduce rates of infection. So no… Its not a ridiculous comparison.
@Michael Bodycoach:
So when the flu comes around again in Winter Wel all be wearing masks again will we?
Let me remind you that 99.5% of the population did not get this virus
They are all wearing masks in China and the figures are going up again so what does that prove to you about the face masks?
@Michael Bodycoach: the basic masks don’t stop anything from going through, they’re used to stop the infected from spitting and coughing on top of everything, hospital masks are finer and used to stop larger particles from entering their nose/mouth same with construction masks. The general public basically have tissue on string.
@Nalex:
Yes like a wet nappy
@ciaran carroll: you have some many holes in your understanding of the situation. China has a higher population and assume everyone wears facemasks. You also assume you understand the clusters have come from lack of PPE and not any other reason. 99.5% of our population did not get the virus because our government took preventative measures. How do you explain Brazil and USAs continuously increasing numbers who avoid face masks. Anyways I’ll leave it at this. Banging my head against a concrete wall will never work to bring the wall down and leave me with a headache.
@Nalex: have peer reviewed evidence of this or do you just make It up? Seems our Experts who know what they are talking about tell us differently.
@ciaran carroll: “They are all wearing masks in China” or “they are not all wearing masks over there”, make up your mind
I won’t be wearing one and I won’t pay any fine either
@ciaran carroll: go on ya mad thing!
@ciaran carroll: Ciaran Carroll who doesn’t know how to use capital letters is a notorious face mask function denier.
I’m convinced a face mask showed him a good night then never called him back or something.
Get a life lad.
@ciaran carroll: Well done you absolute thwonk. No tears now if anyone elderly or vulnerable in your family kicks it because of your ignorance and stupidity.
@Mark Brown:
And what about if they die from cancer or flu or pneumonia or tummy bug?
Close down the country and wear masks?
@ciaran carroll: You don’t run in front of a car when someone is driving it because you might get hit. You should wear a face mask because you might get corona virus. It’s that easy. What is the big deal about wearing a mask when it’s recommended for health reasons.
@ciaran carroll: try to use intelligent examples. I can’t “catch” cancer or pneumonia or a stomach bug by being near someone who has it!!
It’s your right not to wear a mask. Then walk.
@Sinead Boland: It’s the same reason why people smoke even though it’s basically sentencing yourself to an early grave in most cases, they don’t care about what happens to themselves. They’re here for a good time not a long time.
@ciaran carroll: you are such a hero!
@Anthony Burke: That is an addiction very different.
I hope Tony Holahan is still managing this pandemic because I have no faith in MM and FF looking after the Irish people in this pandemic. They brought this country to its knees not very long ago and we are still paying for it.
@2thFairy: unfortunately it’s not MM and FF, FG and the Greens are there as well. So it’s a three way thing.
Try to get on a bus or train in Germany without a mask & you will hear raus raus schnell, maybe the Irish public need to get a bit narky if some selfish eejit risks the health of all.
@rodgerw@eircom.net: you think Ireland is bad? You should see the UK and London… face masks are mandatory on all public transport enforced via fines.. but hardly anyone wears them. Street parties happing everywhere. I’m expecting a massive second wave in the UK.
Leister city was out into lockdown yesterday.
@ciaran carroll: I think the idea of wearing face masks is not to protect you.. but to protect others? So if you are carrying the virus it reduces the chance of you spreading it on. I could be wrong on this, but that was my impression.
@Aaron Tynan:
Yes Aaron I know but droplets escape at the side of the mask so they don’t protect anyone it’s just a psychological thing for the hypochondriacs as it makes them think that it works
It’s brainwashing as if you are told to do something continuously by someone the brain for some people absorbs it
@ciaran carroll: there shouldn’t be a gap at the side of your mask….maybe get a new, better fitting mask?
And masks are there to protect others from yourself, in case you are carrying the virus.
@Aaron Tynan: no, you’re right. Most masks won’t help the wearer at all. But it will limit the spread of droplets from you exhaled breath, sneezing, coughs etc that could spread the virus to others. I’d rather not wear one myself, as it’s uncomfortable and no direct benefit to me, but it is of direct benefit to others so it is the socially responsible thing to do.
@Carol C. is Social Distancing from You:
No thank you
But you can wear one if you like
Droplets are tiny so unless the mask is actually skin grafted into the side of your face they will escape and don’t sneeze into your mask imagine inhaling all that gunk back into your own body
How disgusting is that??
@ciaran carroll: just waiting to see your name and your pathetic ramblings.
@ciaran carroll: imagine all those “brainwashed” doctors, nurses etc all over the world wearing masks for years. If only they’d follow your expert advice!
@ciaran carroll: I refer you to your own comment about doctors and nurses. You’re talking out of both sides of your unmasked mouth!
@ciaran carroll: says everything one needs to know when anyone who disagrees with someone is called an “idiot”, “clown”, “moron” or “brainwashed”.
Sad
@ciaran carroll: Learn how they work properly
What about all the clowns driving around in their cars on their own wearing masks?
I wonder are they afraid of passing the virus onto the steering wheel?
You couldn’t write the script for this comedy show
@ciaran carroll: if I know I need to get out of the car into a public place again soon, I wouldn’t take it off either. There is no sense putting your hand to your face to take off a mask just to put it back on again.
@ciaran carroll: They are often driving to/from the off the Shops. You aren’t supposed to take the mask off till you get home, after taking the mask off you should wash your hands.
@ciaran carroll: more likely people forgetting to take them off or rushing from one place where they’ve worn it to another place where they have to wear it. Have forgotten to take it off myself once or twice. Shows it has become normalised for some which is a very good thing
@David Jordan:
So what happens your sneeze gunk when it goes into the mask?
Where does that go?
Yuck disgusting and u think that won’t make you sick?
@ciaran carroll: you wash your masks or dispose of them regularly. And if you are sneezing up gunk, you probably shouldn’t be outside in the first place. Coughing it at other people is not the solution
@ciaran carroll: The only comedy show here is you pal, and you’re still dying on your arse.
@Joe Vlogs:
So what about hay fever or allergies and you sneeze into your mask or will you defeat the purpose of the mask by taking it off when you have to sneeze?
@Mark Brown:
Stay inside now with the mask and spacesuit you might catch a bit of fresh air if you venture outside
It’s too dangerous for you I think
@ciaran carroll: yes, you don’t take it off. I get hay fever, but if I sneeze with hay fever and I also have Covid-19, I would spread the droplets of covid 19. Nobody ever said masks were meant to stop 100 per cent of droplets, but they clearly stop a large amount.
@Mark Brown:
Massive thumbs up to you Mark. I hope that clown keeps well away from EVERYBODY…
@ciaran carroll: its your own gunk…better you breath in your own than I or anyone else!
@ciaran carroll: To answer your question about whether your own sneeze gunk will make you sick, it won’t. you’ve either sneezed to get some dust or something out or you’re already sick and in that case the mask has done it’s job by keeping it there for you to breath back in. You’ve inadvertantly proved everyone’s point. Nice one.
Sure wasn’t Luke O Neill on tv a few months back advising people not to wear masks
Now he’s the main promoter telling people to wear them which is a total contradiction
He’s an immunologist and changing his mind
I wonder why???
@ciaran carroll: We discovered that many people can be infected with SARS-COV-2 but experience no symptoms but are still contagious, so the old advice of isolating at home if you feel sick would not work with this virus.
Some people could be infected with the virus and feel perfectly healthy, they could go to the shops or get on a bus and not realise they were infecting other people.
So they recommended mask to help prevent the transmission of this contagious disease by asymptomatic people. Just imagine that, your sitting on a bus and someone who looks fine, they feel fine, is spreading virus around when taking to a friend because they are not wearing a mask.
@ciaran carroll: give us all a break, no one likes the idea of wearing a mask, your only asked to wear it on public transport, enclosed spaces and crowded areas, avoid those 3 situations and you won’t have to wear one at all, to quote Professor O’ Neill “put your mask where your mouth is”!.
@Kate Flaherty: literally!
@David Jordan:
But sure do what 94% of people recover and have hardly any symptoms sure you can get a tummy bug or the flu of someone also
@Kate Flaherty:
Sure didn’t he say not to wear them a month ago now he’s telling people to wear them
He seems a little confused don’t you think?
No thanks I won’t be wearing one
@ciaran carroll: your one of those people if they told you not to wear a mask you’d insist on wearing one, your another brainwashed gemmoid who just likes to do the direct opposite to what your asked and be heard doing it, let us know how that one goes for you but I’d rather doubt you will, stay away from the elderly infirm and vulnerable and do what you like after that!…
@ciaran carroll: Scientists and researchers are discovering things about viruses every day. Those who work on sexy viruses get the most research funding. At the beginning of the pandemic we were told that masks were not much use unless you were on the frontline. I suspect frontline staff rightly wanted as much PPE for themselves as they could get. Now PPE is more easily available and you can throw a box of masks in with your weekly shop along with the gloves.
A coronavirus particle is very small (0.07-0.09 microns in size compared to some pollens which are 20 microns in size). I’m no scientist but I would imagine a coronavirus particle would find its way through most masks no matter how well they are fitted. If you sweat while you are wearing your mask they might escape in the sweat as well. It’s a lovely environment for the ones that do hang around under the mask. If you do wear masks you’re supposed to dispose of them properly but that doesn’t seem to be the case so far. They are all over the side of the road and in car parks as well. If you wanted to spread the virus you couldn’t find a better way of doing it.
If you think it’s bad now wait until winter when the next round of common colds hits the populace. All the hypchrondriacs will be even more hysterical and coronavirus testing will be next to useless because some common colds are caused by coronaviruses some of which are relatively harmless if you’re in good health.
I would argue that proper doses of Vitamin D taken daily are more effective than wearing a mask but not everyone would agree with me.
@Kate Flaherty: that sounds like a mantra. Oh wait it is.
@Em Gee: The diameter of the virus is irrelevant as it’s transmitted through droplets
@Em Gee: Vitamin d has proven to be useless against Covd-19
Best of luck with the fines
There will be some job trying to get people to pay that I certainly wont pay it
@ciaran carroll: lets scare them with fines.
The only way to stop this virus is for most people to get it and let the body’s immune system fight it off
The people do this are the ones who are never sick as the body is designed to fight bugs and viruses that’s why we were born with an immune system
It is the hypochondriacs going around wearing masks and welders face guards who will get sick as they are suppressing their own immunity
@ciaran carroll: oh really? I assume you are some professor of immunology, because all the other experts indicate there is no proof that it will lead to immunity, and even those who recover will often suffer significant effects for the rest of their life.
@Joe Vlogs:
Nonsense
My cousin had it
He had a slight cough and a sniffle that’s all
@Joe Vlogs:
So you are saying that the 94% of people who got it and recovered will suffer for the rest of their lives?
Get a grip of yourself man you are losing the plot
@Joe Vlogs:
No proof that there is no immunity either as people were locked down over it
So the numbers will now go up obviously as more people are exposed to the virus this is not a bad thing as people will fight it off like the body fights off other viruses and it will weaken which is actually now happening as the younger people are getting it and shrugging it off
First we had the bird flu then the swine flu gosh they seem to have miraculously disappeared as will this bat flu also disappear
False alarm guys
@ciaran carroll: you really haven’t a clue.
@ciaran carroll: People are dying from this and you’re here having a laugh trolling the comments section. There have been many reports of people being infected again with the virus.
@ciaran carroll: say that to the families of the 1730 plus people who died in this country from it. If you are truly asmathic, which I very much doubt going from your comments, you would really suffer if you caught it. Ask any of those who caught it and recovered. I know a few and they swear they do not want it a 2nd time. Reading any comments you have put up in this article it is plain to see you are clutching at straws trying to prove a point which is plain as the nose on your face to see is wrong.
I was in two different Tesco stores over the weekend and not a single staff member was wearing a mask. Someone explain to me what is going on here.
@Brendan Woods: It’s called ‘try wearing a mask in an under or over air conditioned space for 8.5 hours where you are already sweating bricks’.
Seriously. Try it out. Let’s see how long you can breathe properly and get your job done.
@Brendan Woods:
Clever staff
@Carol C. is Social Distancing from You: It’s quite easy once you get used to it
@Carol C. is Social Distancing from You: I drive a taxi so I know what it’s like. So what your saying is that I should wear a mask but the staff who stack the shelves shouldn’t. Again I say, what is happening here??
@ciaran carroll: not really, they will lose custom. Nothing clever when tesco lose money and ask why
If you don’t like the Mask you’re going to hate the Ventilator….
What happens to people who cant wear masks for medical reasons?Do they bring a sick note with them?
@Kieran Byrne:
Yep I’d say a lot of people will have those with them
Should have been in place from the start of this thing.. why now?
@Pat Kelly:
Because the govt has a stockpile of pps and masks that they paid a fortune for and they are trying to get the brainwashed Irish people to buy them
@ciaran carroll: fact. And they even rub it in with articles on the journel about ppe deliverys. Its a business.
@ciaran carroll: Oh god will you ever give your rhetoric a break ciaran…you will be the death of someone yet…some young gullible lad or lass who will take you or Daragh or Dino seriously and infect someone vunerable. I hope you can live with that on your conscience. Most mormal people I know couldn’t!
@Joe_X: *normal*
I rely on public transport, if they’re going to enforce this, then they must! Supply the face masks. I’ll happily wear one if it’s being paid for out of the price of the ticket
@Nalex: Why should anyone else bear the cost of you being socially responsible?
@Nalex: the cost €2 euro and are washable.
Watching plenty of buses in Dublin city centre this morning and while 90% of passengers had masks only about 10% of drivers had them on.
@Philip Kedney:
The drivers have more sense
They value their health and are not brainwashed
@ciaran carroll: oh right, that’s why. And the passengers are sheeple. Dumb, stupid passengers.
@Joe Vlogs:
Absolutely
@ciaran carroll: you’re the biggest eejit of the day
The level of ignorance on this comments section is staggering. Just wear a mask
@Bountyop: 2 fellas mostly, don’t know why anyone bothers to reply to their nonsense.
@Cliff Burnby: The reason people respond to their nonsense is because the rubbish they are spouting needs to be diffused. Imagine if they were the only comments here, and nobody argued the point, there maybe someone who could be swayed easily reading the comment and think “I’ll look a complete (insert derogatory comment here) if I wear a mask.” If you count up the posts of 2 you mentioned, they must be after posting half the comments in this article alone. At least that is why I respond, trying to be logical if I can restrain myself
How will they enforce exactly, from what I hear from a friend who works for bus eireann they are not allowed engage with customers but instead just point to signs on face masks and social distancing, so will there be inspectors at every bus stop now, I highly doubt that. People will do as they please because its all empty threats at this stage, unless public transport companies hire extra staff and dish out the fines themselves because it doesn’t seem on paper enforceable, and no I am not defending the clueless muppets who don’t wear masks, but as the weather gets worse and the evenings get darker, I feel sorry for public transport workers having to deal with the abuse they will take over mask wearing, social distancing and the fact they will only be allowed carry half amounts of people with it being unlikely that extra services will be added as before this public transport was a near breaking point in major cities
@Michael Patrick Newell:
Masks don’t work
@ciaran carroll: Yes they do
If they were unable to police the drinking, anti social behaviour, and drug use on the Red Line prior to Covid; I’d be genuinely interested to see how they manage to impose fines on non compliant passengers now.
Anyone who doesn’t wear a mask (excluding those with health difficulties that mean they can’t wear one), is a vain, selfish traitor to society. Do the decent thing and help to protect your community by wearing a mask/face covering, keeping a social distance, and using the hand sanitizer that is provided. In other words, grow up and act responsibly instead of like spoilt children.
Maybe a good idea for the transport sector/government to supply the masks
@Bartron5000: Masks are available in Tesco now so it is not like they are hard to get.
What a load of shi– . There is research out that suggests covid makes no difference with the masks. How about freedom I thought it was phase 3.
@Henry: Do us all a favour Henry. Stay the hell away from me and mine.
People must cop on and wear a face mask, but there are problems for those who have breathing problems etc and can only avail of public transport to get around.
Fines and more fines get in the money
have your say