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CABINET WILL MEET today to discuss the Level 5 exit plan as all indications are the country will be moving back to Level 3 restrictions, with some modifications, come next Tuesday.
While there had been speculation that the public announcement might be made on Thursday, so as not to clash with the Late Late Toy Show, it is understood that the government is planning to make details known on Friday with the Taoiseach giving a national address.
Yesterday, Micheál Martin said that “no decisions have been made as yet” as to exactly what restrictions will follow Level 5.
He said there will be meetings with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and Covid-19 subcommittee this week, with the Cabinet meeting for a second time later in the week to discuss the most up to date data before an announcement is made.
“We will engage with NPHET and I’ve been in touch with the Chief Medical Officer. NPHET obviously will give its advice but government will decide how we exit Level 5 and that will be a decision of government that will be taken this week, either towards Thursday or Friday,” he said.
However, he added that the government, not NPHET, would be making the final call.
Government sources state that today’s Cabinet meeting will be important, and while ministers and the Taoiseach won’t make a “definite call” on the level of restrictions, it will give a good indication as to the direction the country is headed for Christmas.
When asked about the timing of the announcement to the public, a government source said “we are all aware of the Toy Show issue”, indicating that if the Taoiseach is to give an address, it would not clash with the programme, set to air at 9.35pm, and would take place earlier in the day.
What can be expected?
The Taoiseach said yesterday that Level 3 and Level 5 restrictions have worked in terms of bringing down the case numbers. He appeared positive about moving away from Level 5 restrictions.
There will be good news for retailers as all non-essential shops are set to reopen.
It is understood that retailers will also be given the green light to extend opening hours. While such a move usually requires planning permission, it is believed local authorities have been doing a lot of work with businesses to facilitate the longer opening hours.
This is to mitigate crowds of shoppers descending on retailers in the weeks up to Christmas.
The main battleground for the government is whether pubs and restaurants will reopen for December.
Under the current draft plan, it is understood that the aim is to keep restaurants open permanently once the lockdown ends next week.
However, there is doubt in government circles that wet pubs will be given the green light to open their doors.
No final decisions have been made yet. However, it is understood that in order to allow restaurants and pubs that serve food to open, one option under consideration is delaying their reopening by one week from 1 December.
Drink-only pubs and pubs that serve food may also have to have earlier closing times.
“We have looked at a lot of research on this, we’ve looked at what happened from August, September, October, we looked at international data. There are super spreader events, gatherings and congregation facilitate the spread of the virus. Gatherings and congregation with events with alcohol facilitate the spread of the virus. Ultimately, vigilance is key, human behaviour is key,” the Taoiseach said yesterday.
In terms of restrictions on household visits, it is believed restrictions could be lifted for Christmas week, with the focus more on personal choice and responsibility, rather than rigid recommendations on numbers.
However, the public will be asked to limit mingling to perhaps one main gathering during the Christmas period.
Inter-county travel will also be allowed so people can go home to see their friends and family. Mass and religious worship is also set to reopen.
“This Level 5 has been difficult, and the restrictions on households has been difficult on people. That has been very hard for people. We get that, we understand that.
“The good news is that what you are doing is working. We’re managing our hospitals in terms of ICU numbers and in terms of hospitalisation. We’ve kept our schools open. We’ve kept our schools open thanks to all involved,” said Martin yesterday.
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Can’t be expected to bring yer own cup everywhere with you. On the go and sometimes just want a coffee…..
@declan benson: bought a coĺlapsable cup which is handy but yes its hard to remember it always but could but couple keep in bag and/or car?
@declan benson: So, stop for 10 minutes, take a well earned break, and have a cup of coffee!
@Lydia Mcloughlin: we should be allowed to get a disposable coffee if we like.
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Why?
@Sean oSuilleabhain: disposable coffee, yes. Disposable cups, no.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: I agree but it’s hard to get a normal size cup in most cafes
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Because we want to.
@michael graham: Are you saying the cups are too big or too small? Without mentioning names we all know whete you can get a double handled monstrosity which hilfs half a litre of (vile) coffee!
@Roy Dowling: more of an Ace of base fan myself.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Because for some of us, it’s a spur-of-the moment treat.
A week or so back, I went into town with my mum, and on a whim mentioned I’d buy us a couple of hot chocolates from the place we like best. This is a take-away only place, so disposable cups are necessary.
This was the third, maybe fourth time this year we’ve done this. We aren’t coffee drinkers. We don’t need reusable cups with us, because we use them so infrequently.
@declan benson: It’s a learned habit. Remember the plastic bags in the shops?
@Siona F: Yes you do need reusable cups, to stop using yhe ‘single use’ version! What a waste of resources! If this is the 4th time this year, that will be 8 times in a full year, so 16 cups in total!! By reusable ones!
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: I wouldn’t buy disposable coffee. I would much rather drink it.
@declan benson: “In order to insure no patrons are turned away, customers can purchase a reusable cup for a €2 deposit which is refundable when the cup is returned at any of the participating locations.”
@declan benson: sorry hit return too fast, meant to say if deposit scheme was in place it would solve that issue.
@declan benson: you can !
All they have to provide is a hot rinse and drain bongo clean reusable stainless mug.
Or just ensure they only use the compostable cups. Lots of large companies are already using these for their staff.
@mark daly: compostable cups could be great, but without on street public compostable bin infrastructure they just end up in land fill.
@Stuart Boyle: True, but they would degrade to a better form than plastic. So should still be a better option overall.
@mark daly: biodegradable will degrade eventually in any surroundings whereas compostable requires a specific environment so biodegradable might actually be better in this scenario – though either is preferable to plastic
Someone i usually never want to agree with, as he just says whatever in the most dominating tone is Piers Morgan. Points out the other day CORRECTLY that everything and anything will be monitored in the west in the name of climate change while the Chinese regime continues to be responsible for over 30-33% of emissions. Imagine Just stop oil zealots heading off to China, or Iran to protest> AS IF.
@Sean oSuilleabhain: why would you take Piers Morgan’s word as being sacrosanct? He’s not a scientist or a geographer or a climatologist! Basically, he’s just a loud mouth
@Shelley Keary: because the point above that he just reiterated is scientifically factual
@Sean oSuilleabhain: China? Ok, then start to produce chemical, mineral, domestic products, clothing… in Ireland, see how your carbon emissions is, good luck with that
@Ní neart go cur le chéile.: CHY NA
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Conspiracy theories about climate change by Pier Morgan or any other nutter with a platform is not scientifically factual.
@David Guiney: It is factual and the journal is unwilling to let me post my reply. stop calling people who arent conspiracy theorists that just because you have a limited grasp of vocabulary.
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Why would they go there to protest, they could could be harmed. Everywhere needs to cut down, China and Ireland included, are you arguing that we should somehow force China to cut its emissions more?
Nothing but another money grab under the guise of saving the planet, they know full well people will not be carrying around a cup with them so they’ll squeeze the extra money out of them
@retro sun: If people want their money grabbed, they won’t take a cup with a cup with them. We managed with shopping bags …
No, but people who bring their own cups should get their drinks cheaper.
@Seán Flanagan: they do
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Not everywhere has that policy
@Monika B K: :( if anyone will ditch it I assume Starbucks did?
@Seán Flanagan: A better option would an extra charge (tax) for buying a disposable cup. Like how they did it with the plastic bags back in the day. Getting companies to volunteer to a discount is like p*ss*ng in the wind.
@David Guiney: anyone who REQUESTS further taxation in a country where this money is overwhelmingly squandered by parasites in power, is beyond help
Heres a novel idea… why dont people stop buying takeaway coffee?
You would save money, and help the environment.
Everytime I see somebody with a takeaway coffee I think, theres another victim of consumerism. Thats 3 Euro you are never getting back.
@Pat Mcleran: I don’t buy takeaway coffee.. but I buy the occasional takeaway hot chocolate. So far, I’ve bought 3 or 4 this year. Not very frequent and usually on a total whim. I generally prefer making my own at home, but hey, the odd treat is nice.
The place I go to when I do want one…only does takeaway. No sitdown space.
@Pat Mcleran: I agree with you. If I stop at a coffee shop, I make a point to sit down and enjoy it onsite. It’s not always practical though. Some coffee places operate out of a food truck. I do have a reusable cup. But I mostly use that when I make my own coffee at home and take it in the car or on the train/bus.
3 euro for a cup of coffee is a total rip off with or without your own cup.
You could buy a whole jar of coffee for that price.
It makes no difference one way or another, these are just silly little things of no importance.
Compostible all the way. Just back from France ans they have reusable plastic holders for chips and chicken nuggets..
stayed safe did you? you maybe werent in one of Macrons peaceful major towns and cities
@Sean oSuilleabhain: no need, it’s all quiet at the moment, it’s been too hot. On the subject of reusables and compatibles, France has been doing this for years. For me it’s more a question of respecting the planet than climate change.
@David Stapleton: so true, plus it would be nice to take a walk on Tramore beach and not see disposable coffee cups blowing around, climate change or no climate change.
Absolutely disposable cups should be done away with , complete waste. Not to mention the amount of litter they generate
I was in La Rochelle last uest. No disposable cups used in the city , drink your coffee in the coffee shop or bring your own mug. Did not see any body carrying bottles water either . And as far as I know chewing gum is also banned..
As a member of our local Tidy Towns , I cannot wait for the introduction of the levy on plastic bottles and cans , the ban on the sale of coffee in disposable cups.
Irish people do not see litter and would step over it or around it, rather than do something about it
Introduce a co2 allowance for everybody, when u use it up you pay through the nose for somebody else’s spare co2, if that doesn’t solve the problem then start on the endless list of tiny adjustments. Why stop an ordinary Joe soap enjoying a coffee when someone is driving past them in a Range Rover on the way to the airport for their umpteeth flight this year to another holiday or shopping trip in New York. Saving the planet shouldn’t be based on wealth in terms of who does it
@Eddie Garvey: You’d fit in well in China with that attitude.
These single-use wooden stirrers bug me. It seems such a stupid waste. I ask for a metal spoon.
What’s next from the new religion? the new “Climate Cult”
It shouldn’t ban it or stop using it. Nothing wrong with it. It’s the people! People should have the awareness, do not dump it anywhere as continuance for them.
Educating people is what we should be doing as a society so they can make the right decisions. Not banning things for the sake of it. Also on the topic of looking after the environment, is there not some tasks that could be given to local teenagers during the summer holidays to improve the environment and the appearance of many estates? A day or two a week litter picking or painting walls or cutting grass wouldn’t be much to ask.
@DublinDan: So pay the people who want to do a summer job. Why decide that teenagers should be the ones to clear up without payment? Do they have fewer rights than other people?
Anything that reduces waste is good as far as iam concerned
I want to combat climate change but I want others to take action, I want others to pay, I want others to take responsibility, I want others to suffer the current an future effects …
I think it should be mandatory to carry a reuse cup.
Just like a Driving License
In fact, one can put a PSC Chip on the side of it, and make it mandatory you have it everywhere you go (including to the bathroom)
Regina Doherty can be drafted in to implement it.
She can come up with one of her witty quips like “its compulsory but not mandatory”.
Yes bring own cup and charge at least a euro less for a cupa coffee or tea
Is there an option for “I really don’t give a f”
@Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh): We’ll pass that idea on to our investors. And your children.
No. This will cause a collapse in coffee buying. Instead, I would suggest a levy of say 1 Euro on single use cups.
They could start by using smaller cardboard cups for take aways
Coffee tastes terrible out of plastic cups.
@Kevin Dillon: I use a ceramic cup, but obviously it’s bulky to carry around.
We are pleased to note the lack of initiative of the individual. You would rather we produce endless throwaway products to generate profits for our industry and so that they either end up in landfill, the side of the road or better still, in your lungs once incinerated. We are are delighted that rather than take said personal initiative to just bring your own cup, instead of being lazy and ignorant, you would rather bicker like a bunch of rats about your right to produce needless waste or be legislated to do what simply requires your own initiative (to bring your own reusable cup or bottle). We are further delighted to note that while you think a cup may be “disposable”, they still require plastic coatings adding to the already asinine levels of plastics (and micro-plastics) in the environment that end up in your food and finally, being found in the human placenta. These weak synthetic estrogens which you so wilfully bathe in are for your greater good.
have your say