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Parnell and Rees-Mogg The ‘Uncrowned King of Ireland’ and the unworkable British parliament

Historian Donal Fallon writes about Charles Stewart Parnell, and how the Irish Parliamentary Party brought filibustering to Westminster.

IN RECENT YEARS, the British public have had to brush up on their Irish politics, thanks to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) holding significant sway for a long period over the Tories following the hung parliament of the 2017 General Election.

Google’s trending reports at the end of the year indicated that the eighth most Googled question in the United Kingdom was “who are the DUP?”.

In the late nineteenth century, the balance of power in the London parliament also fell into the hands of an Irish political party, with the Irish Parliamentary Party of Charles Stewart Parnell returning 86 Home Rule MPs to the hung parliament of 1885.

While the DUP may have baffled and confused the British public of our day, there was no question of who Charles Stewart Parnell was or what Home Rule stood for back in 1885.

Parnell succeeded in bringing the paramount Irish political issue of the day – Irish legislative independence – to the very top of the British political agenda. The evocation of his name on Tuesday night by Jacob Rees-Mogg has returned the name of Parnell to the record of the Westminster House of Commons, where he was both a respected and reviled figure.

That Rees-Mogg is not an admirer of Parnell, or Home Rule more broadly, is evident to anyone who endures his recent foray into history writing, The Victorians: Twelve Titans who Forged Britain.

Political machine

Amidst a defence of the values of Victorian British society (one reviewer of the book maintained that “all he achieves with this awful book is to make a shipwreck of his own pretensions as they are repeatedly dashed on the rocks of his incoherent thoughts”), the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) emerge as the dangerous wreckers of the period, a party with no respect for the British constitution or parliamentary structure.

In truth, they were perhaps the most effective party political machine in the Westminster parliament. In the words of writer Nan Sloane, author of a history of the Labour Party, the IPP was a machine others envied:

It was the first party able to enforce parliamentary discipline, the first to have a recognisably modern election machine and the first to understand how to use the power its electoral strength gave it.

Parnell, the product of a Protestant landowning family, was perhaps an unlikely leader for the IPP machine. First elected to the House of Commons as MP for Meath in April 1875, he had stood on a platform which promised a new land policy, “embracing fixity of tenure and fair rents”.

From the beginning, his language flirted with radicalism, with him telling one election rally that “England should remember the example set by her American colonies and bear in mind that if she refuse to Ireland what her people demand as a right, the day would come when Ireland would have her opportunity in England’s weakness”.

By the following year, many IPP MPs were committed to a policy of obstructionism, designed to make it impossible for the House of Commons to function, and to focus the attention of British politicians and the press on Ireland. Delivering long, filibustering speeches, IPP MPs provoked the ire of many on both sides of the floor.

Particularly effective at the tactic was Joseph Biggar MP, a colourful character from Belfast. A former pork butcher, and once sworn into the Fenian secret society the Irish Republican Brotherhood, Biggar would stand and read long passages from parliamentary Blue Books, former parliamentary acts or the contemporary press.

At first, Biggar was concerned with obstructing Coercion laws aimed at Ireland, but in time focus turned to just grinding down parliamentary business. One sketch writer who worked in Westminster noted wryly in his diary, after spending some 26 hours in parliament as a result of the IPP, that “it is clear enough that Home Rule means not going home all night yourself, and keeping as many other people as possible out of their beds”.

Parnellism

Parnell himself was also brilliant at the act of filibustering, but that was not the key strength of what became known as Parnellism.

His ability to mobilise crowds in numbers unseen since the days of Daniel O’Connell, his oratorical skills and the wildcard of Fenianism, which he kept close to his chest, all ensured that the British political class understood that Parnell was a figure who could not be ignored.

Sections of the conservative British press worked themselves into a frenzy denouncing Parnell, while one particularly inflammatory pamphlet insisted that “if the Parnellites cannot appreciate British Freedom – the largest the world ever saw – it shows they are not fit for Home Rule … To those who threaten dagger and dynamite I again point out there is plenty of rope in England”.

Parnell’s only loyalty in the British parliament was to the cause of Irish self-governance, lending and dropping political support to Conservatives and Liberals as it suited the agenda of the IPP.

Those who wrangled with him politically recognised his ability; to the Liberal William Gladstone, who would ultimately adopt a Home Rule policy in no small part as a result of Parnell’s agitation, he was “the most remarkable man I ever met. I do not say the ablest man; I say the most remarkable and the most interesting. He was an intellectual phenomenon.”

British politicians ignore Ireland, and all of its historic complexities, at their peril. Still, in even mentioning the name of Parnell, Rees-Mogg has shown more awareness of Irish history than some of his colleagues in recent times.

The comments of Conservative MP Priti Patel, when she suggested using the possibility of food shortages in Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit to encourage the EU to drop the backstop, were roundly denounced in recent times. In the words of Labour MP David Lammy, “Priti Patel’s comments expose either extreme callousness or ignorance. Shame on her either way for throwing salt at old wounds.”

Donal Fallon is a historian and editor of ‘Come Here To Me’ (www.comeheretome.com). He is the author of several studies of Irish history, including Revolutionary Dublin: A Walking Guide (Collins Press, 2018).

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 7:17 AM

    Jesus H Christ discussing a “possible” easing of restrictions are you having a laugh. England more or less fully open Scotland the same Spain going down the road of treating this as endemic and a group whose modelling was constantly miles off, that are permanently misleading the pyblic about cases, hospitalisations and deaths are considering a possible easing. Time these fellas were given the Spanish archer

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    Mute Dave Johnston
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    Jan 20th 2022, 7:24 AM

    @Michael McGrath: It’s looking good. Hospitality time limit will be gone next week and they’re talking about a full house in the Aviva for three six nations. England and Scotland only easing restrictions now as well. We’re actually in line with the rest of Europe this time, rather than months behind in 2021.

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    Mute John Rock
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:02 AM

    @Michael McGrath: endemic in Spain? Where you pull that info from?

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    Mute John Rock
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:05 AM

    @Michael McGrath: Spain/Scotland in an endemic? Where did you get that info from?

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:13 AM

    @John Rock: Spain are moving to treat this as endemic its all over the news google it. Said nothing about Scotland

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    Mute Jo H
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:13 AM
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    Mute Tordel Back
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:18 AM

    @Michael McGrath: I just love how copying our wise lords and masters in England (~2000 deaths a week for months now, and rising) is always the gold standard of public health policy as far as this cesspit of a comments section is concerned.

    And as for the glorious paradise of entirely-imagined endemicity of Spain (~1000 deaths a week, and rising), the Canaries and Balaerics are all at Level 3 restrictions, and Tenerife just moved back up to Level 4 restrictions.

    But what-ho Jeeves, as long as we can get back to the jolly old Aviva.

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    Mute Rmaybe
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:50 AM

    @Michael McGrath:not sure sure of the rest but I know Italy Poland and Amsterdam all have restrictions with hospitality closed

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    Mute John Rock
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:59 AM

    @Jo H: “exploring how”and the “end is not in sight?” A little bit misleading? JoH

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    Mute Baronvoncass
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:00 AM

    @Tordel Back: public health used to not involve mandatory movement and gathering restrictions you know.

    44
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    Mute Pádraic Brady
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:51 AM

    @Baronvoncass: Whoever you blame, we only have around 350 ICU beds, and most of those are needed for non-Covid illnesse Did you expect us to ever see Covid patients discarded out the back door when ICU beds run out so people can enjoy a few drinks, party, and drive all over the country spreading it to other places? I really worry about some people’s capacity to care, even a little, for anyone but themselves.

    46
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:55 AM

    @John Rock: On several other news outlets and BBC news. Reporting on Spains decision was early last week.

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:57 AM

    @Tordel Back: That’s absolute nonsense the world and its mother knows at this stage the the scope for a reported covid death is as wide as it is fictional. I guide you the the NHS own website where they have several sections denoting what the criteria for a reported covid death is one of which is “suspected but not confirmed” another is “displaying symptoms but not tested” I kid you not

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    Mute JustMeHere
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:05 AM

    @Michael McGrath: “I guide you to the NHS….” we are not the UK. C low n.

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    Mute Jo H
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:14 AM

    @John Rock: the article starts with ‘suggesting’, no-one said it was a done deal set in stone, so no I don’t think it is misleading. You asked where the idea they were considering this came from, I merely shared an article in answer to your question

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:28 AM

    @Michael McGrath: I guide you to the UK’s figures and the complete disaster that has been the UK government’s handling of this whole pandemic. Remember “herd immunity” and then the big vaccine grab and just look at those fatality numbers. Nobody should look to the UK for any guidance when it comes to this pandemic.

    44
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:31 AM

    @Michael McGrath: modelling constantly miles off? Give it a rest fgs.

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:32 AM

    @John Rock: his backside.

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:33 AM

    @JustMeHere: your the C low n if you read the comment he was referring to deaths in England and anyway the HSE criteria is exactly the same so do yourself a favour and go back under your bridge and stick to scaring goats

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:33 AM

    @Tordel Back: contender for comment of the day right here.

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:50 AM

    @TomTraubert: on CNN news website not my ass.. LONDON — There are growing calls in Europe for Covid-19 to be treated as an endemic illness like the flu despite strong warnings from global health officials that the pandemic is far from over.

    Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, is the latest European leader to stick his head above the parapet by suggesting it’s time to reevaluate Covid. He called on the EU to debate the possibility of treating the virus as an endemic illness.

    “The situation is not what we faced a year ago,” Sanchez said in a radio interview with Spain’s Cadena SER on Monday, as Spanish schoolchildren returned to their classrooms after the holidays.

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:53 AM

    @GrumpyAulFella: Fatalities are misleading you know as well as I do about the criteria for a reported covid death I’m not explaining that one again

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    Mute Edmund Orlando
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:53 AM

    @Dave Johnston: you can’t get on a train or bus in Germany without being vaccinated or be able to show a negative test or proof that you had covid in the last 90 days.

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:54 AM

    @TomTraubert: So the modelling hasn’t been off has it, is that you Prof Nolan

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    Mute Brian McNamara
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:19 AM

    @Tordel Back:

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:53 AM

    @Michael McGrath: yes and the UK were understating their fatality numbers from the outset. It is still believed that their current number of almost 153,000 is understated. That figure per capita in ROI would be just short of 11,000 deaths. Wow!

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    Mute John Rock
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    Jan 20th 2022, 12:01 PM

    @TomTraubert: seconded!

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    Mute Michael Sheehan
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:16 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: Grand total of 15,700 deaths because of covid in England and Wales.

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:53 PM

    @John Rock: Yet another fake profile on the journal. Firstly the comment I made was Spain were going down the path of making this endemic which is entirely true and several people backed that up and I put an excerpt from CNN to back it up. Secondly whose talking out of their hole here both you and Mr Traubert above have made absolutely no positive contribution on here only firing inane comments probably both working out of the same office

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:59 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: How do you understate a number that’s been wholly overstated.

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:03 PM

    @Michael McGrath: sorry, right, you said Spain were on the way to treating it as endemic (they aren’t) then said “…there are growing calls…” “….many countries….” …… see where I’m going here? Just because many euro countries are calling for reevaluation, doesn’t a. mean it will happen and, most importantly (in relation to this conversation) b. DOES NOT MEAN Spain are on the way to treating it as endemic – which is what you stated. You either didn’t know what you were talking about and are confused or you know you said something patently untrue and have been backpedaling since.

    It’s not endemic anywhere, least of all in Spain, Nobody is on the road to making it endemic either. Further, it can’t be endemic anywhere until the pandemic is declared over, and it’s far from that.

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:07 PM

    @Pádraic Brady: Dont be ridic-ulous Government paid millions to private hospitals on two occasions for the use of beds. There was also citywest. It has nothing to do with people’s capacity to care more to do with their ability to survive. People like you rant on about pints its not. Its about peoples livelihoods hospitality has been closed the longest their businesses suffered the most. These people still have to pay the bills, the mortgages and try to keep their businesses open. I get really annoyed at supercilious people’s lack of understanding.

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    Mute Denis Ryan
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:09 PM

    @Michael McGrath: It’s not a fake profile Micheal, he just has his security settings set different to you. Probably only friends of friends can see his profile rather than any old Joe soap.

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    Mute Fergal Doyle
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:23 PM

    @Dave Johnston: covid cert gone on Monday in Scotland.

    17
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    Mute Fergal Doyle
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:24 PM

    @John Rock: Spainish authority are talking about about moving to status of Endemic. Not officially announced, but in the news for over a week.

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:51 PM

    @Michael McGrath: nope. You understand predictions without restrictions won’t materialise when restrictions are put in? Then we get hoohaas like you complaining figures are wrong etc. Nearly two years of this cråp is wearing thin. Stop being devious and disingenuous.

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    Mute John Rock
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    Jan 20th 2022, 4:37 PM

    @Michael McGrath: not a fake profile Michael, thanks for taking the time though.

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    Mute Kevin Thompson
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    Jan 20th 2022, 5:23 PM

    @Michael McGrath: England are hardly an example to follow with all those deaths per capitia

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    Mute Kevin Thompson
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    Jan 20th 2022, 5:25 PM

    @Baronvoncass: there were restrictions for foot in mouth,TB and Spanish flu

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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    Jan 20th 2022, 6:27 PM

    @TomTraubert: you are attributing a quote from CNN that I copy and pasted for you on me buddy. 1 it’s not patently untrue and 2 I’m not back peddling anything. As for being devious and disingenuous I am most certainly am not I think your mixing me up with RTE news, the figures particularly recently on hospitalisations have been highly massaged. Leo admitted it last year reported on this very site saying anything from 45 to 50 % of delta hospitalisation was incidental and at present that could be as high as 65% for omicron this is fact. Instead of name calling and insulting people maybe you should do a bit of independant research look up a letter from the HSE to Michael Fitzmaurice TD ón their criteria of counting a reportable covid death, or watch a few of the videos on you tube of the Oireachtas covid committee where Michael McNamara questions their methods for counting hospitalisations and deaths or research the NHS on their criteria for NI England Wales and Scotland. Do all this and get back to me and if you still think we are not being misled by NPHET then there’s no saving you, you might as well build a bunker and live in it

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Jan 20th 2022, 7:40 AM

    The government restrictions, and associated damage to society, are only being dragged out to maintain the pretence that they worked in the first place. All restrictions should be dropped nationwide tomorrow.

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    Mute Paul O Neill
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:01 AM

    @Alan Kennedy: This weak government are making these people more in control than they need be, they will use this control today to go against the public thirst for opening up quick enough, expect them to show us whose running the country one last time.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Jan 20th 2022, 12:16 PM

    @Alan Kennedy: something I agree on!

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    Mute patrick malone
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:01 PM

    @alan scott: would sf do things differently I wonder

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    Mute Magic 8 ball
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:14 AM

    The UK ending the restrictions and covid passes is not getting much press coverage here. Emigration will start with speed if they continue with the covid restrictions in Ireland. If you add in the housing and rental crisis, cost of living, VRT and Insurance costs with mandatory vaccines being pushed by core EU members it doesn’t look like the place to live if you want to get on and enjoy life especially for the younger generation. No visa needed either makes the process as simple as getting on a flight.

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    Mute John Rock
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:19 AM

    @Magic 8 ball: so the UK is the shinning light of how to manage covid?

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    Mute David A. Murray
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:09 AM

    @John Rock: If Johnson’s government are easing/eliminating restrictions, then I’m convinced it must be the wrong thing to do and is only happening as Johnson’s latest PR stunt/shambolic response.

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    Mute Pol Mlp
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:53 AM

    @John Rock: probably not…but young students/graduates/professionals don’t/wont want to stick around here if nightlife is non existent and you are constantly worried bout further restrictions being brought in when right next door life goes on as close to normal..you can wax lyrical about saving lives all day long but it doesn’t really wash nowadays

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    Mute Toon Army
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:16 PM

    @Magic 8 ball: Spot on. Wouldn’t put it past NPHET to advocate mandatory Covid pass to enter hospitality. Completely against the science and particularly with Omicron. If they go down that route there needs to be strong resistance.

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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:21 AM

    What can’t Nupets meet today and the Gov meet tonight…

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    Mute Rmaybe
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:56 AM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: how did you get access to their outlook calendars?

    29
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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:57 AM

    @Rmaybe: Russia

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    Mute Dr. Emmett Lathrop
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:10 AM

    Lost me at
    “give clear, comprehensive statement”
    :)

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    Mute David A. Murray
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:07 AM

    @Dr. Emmett Lathrop: With a series of subsequent ‘clarifications’ to follow (if previous government messaging is any example). And it’s not encouraging that a renowned scientist such as yourself, Dr. Emmett Brown, can’t figure out what Martin is saying.

    23
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    Mute Brendan Doherty
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:11 AM

    Unmask our kids primary and secondary

    174
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    Mute xDemo17
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:00 AM

    @Brendan Doherty: you do know that the masks for kids in school isn’t mandatory, my 9 year old hasn’t worn one once.

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    Mute Colin Conlan
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:31 PM

    @xDemo17: Primary is not mandatory, secondary it is (more than primary at least) [2]. That being said, and while my primary school kid did not wear one, apparently mask wearing did make a difference (or so they claim). See page 12 of the report from 19 Jan [1] for the sharp drop in primary school cases (week 48, 2021).
    1) https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/surveillance/epidemiologyofcovid-19inirelandcasesaged0-18years/
    2) https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/covid19/face_coverings_during_covid19.html#l2ec56

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    Mute John Johnes
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    Jan 20th 2022, 8:56 AM

    Mehole

    Clear

    Constructive

    Comprehensive

    Statement

    Pick one.

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    Mute Gary C
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:23 AM

    Looking for a way to slither out of their fear mongering

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:56 AM

    @Gary C: who’s afraid?

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    Mute gallybanders
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:42 AM

    “clear comprehensive statement” that will be a first!!

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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:37 AM

    Don’t know why he is even bothering, Leo will beat him to it

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    Mute Pj Browne
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    Jan 20th 2022, 12:17 PM

    If he does it will be the first clear and comprehensive statement he’s made in a long time.i note they haven’t added honesty in it

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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:53 PM

    Everything will suddenly be lifted to cater for the rugby crowd no doubt!

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    Mute Hugh Morris
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:20 PM

    @Ciaran McCann: very cynical comment, you really think they’re making major decisions based on a few rugby matches?!

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    Mute ed w
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    Jan 20th 2022, 2:53 PM

    @Hugh Morris: oh yes

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    Mute Lorcan Barron
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    Jan 20th 2022, 3:21 PM

    @Ciaran McCann: and the GAA , soccer and all the rest !!

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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Jan 20th 2022, 3:44 PM

    @Hugh Morris: Yes I do. 6 Nations is around the corner, amazingly we reopen. So for a second time, Yes I do.

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    Mute ed w
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:24 AM

    clear and comprehensive . i wait with baited breath for that

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    Mute Seán
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    Jan 20th 2022, 11:07 AM

    I wonder are the families of the 80 or so people dying a week from Covid as optimistic and hopeful as the rest of the country?

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    Mute Why Biscuits
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:02 AM

    Start by getting all the kids back to a 9 o clock start these staggered out times are a nightmare

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    Mute Rmaybe
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:07 AM

    @Why Biscuits: That’s up to the school. Mine have have had a normal start time since last year

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    Mute Why Biscuits
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    Jan 20th 2022, 10:15 AM

    @Rmaybe: oh is it well I’ll be emailing the principal now

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    Mute Rmaybe
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    Jan 20th 2022, 12:33 PM

    @Why Biscuits: yes our teachers are all in the classroom at 8.50. Kids don’t line up they just go in different doors of the school. They had large staggered starts times at first and closed it in within a few months of reopening after the first lockdown. They probably don’t start class until about 9.10 as kids naturally filter in between 8.50 and 9.10. It works well. They do the same at home time younger ones start leaving at 2.30 orders one 2.40 it takes that long gbto empty the school anyway. That being said we are lucky to have a number of exits and two gates. May nit be possible in some schools

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    Mute John Sheahan
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:08 PM

    Probably moved to midnight again which will do more harm then good with 1000s of drunk folk all over country being thrown out on to the streets in unison. If they weren’t so weak they’d move everything back to normal opening hours.

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    Mute Lorcan Barron
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    Jan 20th 2022, 3:20 PM

    @John Sheahan: which is/was 11.30pm still a lot of clowns who cant hold their drink falling around the place if someone cant hold their drink or drink socially they should stay at home, or else stagger closing times , at least that way hopefully, it would only be the hours that are staggering !

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    Mute John Sheahan
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    Jan 20th 2022, 6:27 PM

    @Lorcan Barron: A blanket closing of 12 is what I mean.

    Sure, most pubs closed at 11.30 but most people moved on to late bars or nightclubs. Now everybody’s just thrown out on the street at the same time with nowhere to go.

    Apart from that it doesn’t make any sense anyway to close everything at 12. There is no logical science behind it.

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    Mute Lorcan Barron
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    Jan 21st 2022, 11:00 AM

    @John Sheahan: I agree .

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Jan 20th 2022, 4:30 PM

    seen this on Twitter…. Taoiseach in Situ Mr Holohan will meet with his cabinet “NPHET” today to decide upon Covid restrictions & our civil liberties. His cabinet will then relay their decision to the nations public relations officer Micheal Martin who will pass on NPHET’s orders to the nation.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Jan 20th 2022, 4:14 PM

    “well well well, as as as you know its been verrry difficult in the middle of a pandemic”………….. I cannot listen to this man. he is the worst leader this state has ever had. Decisions were made out of line with Europe and we react slower to Europe. Decisions were made based on peoples opinions. This man cannot make a decision and he is unfit to lead.

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    Mute Ron
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    Jan 20th 2022, 4:29 PM

    Just in Northern Ireland to ease restrictions from tomorrow no messing here from them just do it but our leader Micheal Martin said possible easing of restrictions next week so don’t hold your breath!!

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    Mute The Red Devil
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    Jan 20th 2022, 1:00 PM

    I’d say Monday

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    Mute Barry Griffin
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    Jan 20th 2022, 4:39 PM

    Mild enough for time of year

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    Mute Jacqueline berry
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    Jan 20th 2022, 5:47 PM

    I just come here for the very imaginative use of curse words. Well done to those that get around the algorithm (;

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    Mute Alex Marquis
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    Jan 20th 2022, 4:50 PM

    As *cough* clear as it’s always *cough* been.

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    Mute Mike Dé Vere
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    Jan 20th 2022, 5:38 PM

    He might as well lift all restrictions now because he has allowed a situation where many children in school are ill with Covid and there is nothing holding him up now.

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    Mute Mick Staines
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    Jan 20th 2022, 9:47 PM

    Funniest headline this year so far…..

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