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Decision on re-opening of 'wet pubs' still expected by end of August, Taoiseach confirms

It comes despite new government guidance on Covid-19 lasting until 13 September.

THE TAOISEACH HAS said the re-opening of pubs that don’t serve food will be considered again this month, despite announcing of new Covid-19 measures this evening.

The Government unveiled a range of fresh guidance on social gatherings and sport, as well as powers to enforce public health measures following concerns about a spike in the number of cases of the coronavirus in recent weeks.

The new guidance remains place until 13 September, but Micheál Martin told reporters that the re-opening of so-called ‘wet pubs’ would be considered before then.

“We said we would reconsider that specific issue in terms of the wet pubs at the end of August, and we will reconsider it that at that juncture,” the Taoiseach said.

“The virus, and the spread of the virus is dictating and will dictate for considerable time the response to this.

“The only reason we’re here on this podium this evening is because of a desire to suppress this virus, and to prevent it from killing more people.”

Pubs which serve food have been allowed to open since June, under the government’s roadmap for lifting the original Covid-19 restrictions.

However, those that don’t serve food were originally supposed to open again in July, but were prevented from doing so following concerns about the spread of Covid-19 since then.

Earlier this month, the government decided for a second time not to allow those pubs to re-open on 10 August, saying that guidance on their re-opening would be reviewed on 31 August.

The Taoiseach explained that although the latest round of restrictions would be reviewed on 13 September, the issue of pubs would be looked at again at the end of the month because it was believed that all issues needed to be constantly under review.

“We will engage with NPHET in relation to that and obviously, we learn all the time in terms of what’s happening currently in terms of what’s open at the moment, and behaviours and so on,” Martin added.

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    Mute Screaming Toddy
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:23 AM

    And history repeats itself. It is hard to believe how stupid people are.

    145
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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:51 AM

    How are people stupid? Most are trying to get their own home. Rents are through the roof with no stability in the market. This is a planning issue. There should be some thought put into the requirement for housing around the country.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:51 AM

    History isn’t really repeating itself though. House prices are rising simply because people are idiots who think that a lower supply should automatically mean a higher price for their home. I’d be very comfortable in saying that the majority of the houses on the market now will struggle to sell due to the excessively high prices and new mortgage rules.

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    Mute Beano
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    Apr 4th 2016, 7:16 AM

    Houses are still selling but to the wrong people. The new mortgage rules mean young couples cannot get on the ladder so they’re being bought by older or semi retired couples as an investment which only helps increase rent and demand

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    Mute Niallers
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    Apr 4th 2016, 7:19 AM

    Jason. First lesson in an economics class teaches about supply and demand and the effect on price. All being equal, lower supply should nearly always mean a higher price.

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    Mute Trevor Beale
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    Apr 4th 2016, 7:26 AM

    But is the whole issue here, that there is an abundance of houses, either idle or boarded up, that could be sold but are being given to vulture funds for a fraction of the price.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Apr 4th 2016, 4:12 PM

    Prices rise according to the demand, in Cavan for instance the average 3 bed/semi is still well below 100k. Problem is that there is no employment outside of the public service.

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    Mute Setrakian
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:17 AM

    And as a consequence the home tax will also rise. Enda & Co have an awful lot to answer for. Thieves.

    122
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    Mute The Guru
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    Apr 4th 2016, 8:25 AM

    The focus of these articles always seems to be on the price rises. It’s almost like you’re trying to encourage people to buy now rather than wait. Not that the Journal would have any interest in that…. the actual amount of properties sold is still very low which tells us that the market is still stagnant and broken.

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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Apr 4th 2016, 8:28 AM

    Spot on The Guru, and it has to be noted that these are “asking” prices – not sales prices.

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    Mute Ciaran Ó Fallúin
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    Apr 4th 2016, 9:20 AM

    Guru, do you feel they should not report this? Or would you prefer they report it with a slant that matches your sentiments? Also, yes, these are asking prices, which are indicative of trends, which is what the article is about…. There’s zero pleasing some people.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Apr 4th 2016, 9:31 AM

    Actual sales prices are exceeding asking prices due to scarcity in the right areas. It’s a sad reality.

    Many sellers are reluctant to sell in a rising market. Residential property if acceptably located is generating excellent rental yields in a low interest environment and uncertain time for equities. Add pent up Unsatisfied demand and too many factors are pushing up demand in an under supplied market.

    The consequences are adverse to the real economy but good for price speculators.

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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Apr 4th 2016, 9:35 AM

    “Also, yes, these are asking prices, which are indicative of trends, ”

    Exactly – a trend of increasing asking prices – not sales prices.

    16
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Apr 4th 2016, 10:06 AM

    I agree Fiona (for the first time I think!) When house prices are going up less people want to sell, they waiting for them to go up more which in turn drives them up more. But when we fall over the inevitable cliff everyone wants to sell before they drop more which pushes prices down more.

    Developed countries have been trying to break that cycle for a few hundred years now, not looking like it’s going to change anytime soon.

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    Mute Teddington
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    Apr 4th 2016, 10:12 AM

    http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/house-prices-climb-8-in-year-to-january-1.2554208

    I don’t remember the puff piece about this on the Journal when it was announced that in January 2016 that house prices actually fell nationally and in Dublin. I don’t mind them reporting on price increases as long as they’re reporting the situation in a balanced manner and that requires a similar report on a decrease in house prices.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Apr 4th 2016, 11:54 AM

    Ciaran look at the headline. “and will keep going up”…this is the kind of sensationalist and skewed rubbish that got this country in this mess. The Journals parent company has significant investment in property companies and not all readers will know that. So no there’s no pleasing me.

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    Mute Kathleen Kavanagh
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    Apr 4th 2016, 7:06 AM

    Lack of supply & new mortgage rules will be interesting to see the real numbers in the next quarter.

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    Mute Peter King
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    Apr 4th 2016, 10:52 AM

    Just looking at local prices 220,000 seems to be the stopping point for houses.

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    Mute Rónán O'Suilleabháin
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    Apr 4th 2016, 9:08 AM

    If you think rising wages and rising house prices are a good thing, then you’re part of the problem.

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    Mute Conor O'Neill
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    Apr 4th 2016, 2:27 PM

    Rising house prices will get people out of negative equity thou. Then people will be able to move to where they want !

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    Mute Paddy Brewster
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:27 AM

    This is good news at last for the rest of the country outside the bloody pale. But wait till you see the moaners, communists and pessimists on here shortly this morning complaining about it….

    Anyways, I’ve a few properties bought back in the day near the colleges in Carlow, Tralee and Limerick so hopefully will be able to put up the rent a small bit more come September. If prices keep rising I will be able to sell off a couple of them and retire early hopefully. Get in a few holidays a year to Spain :)

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    Mute liam
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:49 AM

    How is it good for the rest of the country and not just you? You increasing your rents, is that good for the rest of the country? Students spending a higher proportion of their funds on rent rather than in local business, and the rent money being spent in Spain, how is that good for the rest of the country?

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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:53 AM

    Bad news for any looking to buy their first home. Maybe if capital gains was reduced, you could release some of these houses while still making a profit

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    Mute Nucky
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    Apr 4th 2016, 7:19 AM

    Liam he’s full if it … Pay no attention

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    Mute Paddy Brewster
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    Apr 4th 2016, 7:40 AM

    Students are well able to afford an extra 50 euro a month in rent. The houses always stink of drink when they leave in May. Beer stains everywhere. Rare the house that would qualify to get their deposit back unfortunately.

    As for where I choose to spend my profit, I will spend it where I bloody like.

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Apr 4th 2016, 8:17 AM

    Lol Paddy. Bit early for fishing on here.

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    Mute Mc F Kevin
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    Apr 4th 2016, 8:51 AM

    Haven’t seen these kind of posts on here before !! It makes a nice change from the pi$$ poor trolling that you normally would see..
    So in a nutshell,it is really really nice to see some new material….Oh wait..Yawn.

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    Mute Mary Cull
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:48 AM

    As long as I’m alright Jack Brigade are on early.

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    Mute Paige Turners
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    Apr 4th 2016, 9:23 AM

    I don’t think house prices in Ireland are that bad compared internationally. Is certainly note expensive in Dublin but you would expect that in a busy city. Compared with other cities I don’t think Dublin prices are bad at all. Rural prices are minute when you consider how close Kildale or Kilkenny is to the capital. Houses cost lost folks… all round the world. Dublin and Ireland are relatively cheap. That’s not a popular view (red thumb link just up there folks) but it’s true.

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    Mute Eamonn Mc Bride
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    Apr 4th 2016, 6:31 AM

    It’s about time

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Apr 4th 2016, 8:32 AM

    Increasing house prices are good for the banks and are a consequence of Noonan’s pro banks policies.

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    Mute prop joe
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    Apr 4th 2016, 3:50 PM

    So true. Noonan seems fixed on selling aib asap. He is driving up house prices to this end. I know it’s the free market but government only control planning, rates of pay, own most banks, regulate all banks, owns Nama, owns lots of land controlled by other government departments etc. But it’s the market that decides.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Apr 4th 2016, 9:19 AM

    The way to buy residential property at a severe discount is to be a high net worth individual who participates in a vulture fund purchasing distressed assets by means of NPLS acquisitions, borrowing at about 0.75% annual interest rates and letting out at a very high rent.

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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Apr 4th 2016, 10:39 AM

    Completely agree with this Fiona, and it’s bound to continue for the foreseeable because of the inability (or reluctance) of the last Government to deal with it.

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    Mute DaveSh
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    Apr 4th 2016, 1:08 PM

    Bought an apt last year off a bank forced sale, boom

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    Mute DaveSh
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    Apr 4th 2016, 1:05 PM

    Nice one, my apt has gone up so

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    Mute DaveSh
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    Apr 4th 2016, 1:03 PM

    Grand made a few bucks from my apt so

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    Mute DaveSh
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    Apr 4th 2016, 1:07 PM

    Nice

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