Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said a zero-Covid strategy is not possible or sustainable as the border with Northern Ireland cannot be sealed.
Speaking at Government Buildings where the Taoiseach announced the extension of Level 5 restrictions until 5 March, he said a zero-Covid strategy was discussed at the Cabinet sub-committee on Monday, as well as with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
However, he said Ireland’s public health experts do not recommend such a plan.
“It’s a promise that you could never fulfill,” he said, stating “once you reopen again, the prospect is there for reseeding of the virus”.
Given Ireland’s geographic location, the “seamless interaction north and south” as well as the movement of border communities, it is not something that would work in Ireland, he said.
“It’s not as simple as putting a seal on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, it’s a seamless interaction.
“Likewise, with the UK, we have very severe restrictions now, but there’s always been historically that interaction. And then we’re connected to the European Economic Zone.
“So there’s always a limit to the degree to which you could seal the island of Ireland, there are real limits on the capacity to do that,” said the Taoiseach.
‘Not realistic’
It is not the first time he has said this. In October, he also stated such a plan was “not realistic” for Ireland – for the same reasons.
Ministers have long been frustrated with the calls for a zero-Covid strategy, arguing that comparing Ireland to countries such as Australia and New Zealand is not comparing like for like, given that there are two jurisdictions on this island.
Other concerns have been raised in relation to Ireland’s supply chain if the country was cut off.
However, a growing number of Opposition TDs have called for a zero-Covid approach that could “save the summer”, as People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett said today.
His party is putting down a motion for such a strategy in the Dáil this week.
Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said it was disappointing that travel proposals today “fall far short of a zero-Covid or elimination strategy. There is public support for going further. We need to do it right and do it now”.
Today, its party members criticised the Government for introducing “half-hearted” measures when it comes to travel.
The strategy has been much talked about since the onset of the pandemic, however the notion that the model is unrealistic has been repeated by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan.
‘When do you unseal the country?’
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said this afternoon that if those advocating for Covid-zero are serious, it would mean the strategy would be followed for a “couple of years, or maybe indefinitely because [the virus] is now all around the world”.
“It’s always going to be active in some part of the world. So whenever you reopen your country, you then don’t have zero-Covid anymore, it then re-enters. So that is one of the problems with the zero-Covid strategy or elimination strategy. It is not possible for us,” he said.
If you cut the country off from the rest of the world entirely “when do you ever unseal, because then inevitably, you let the virus back in again”, he said.
New Zealand have said today that they don’t intend on considering a reopening to foreign travel until they have vaccinated their population, “and they haven’t even started vaccinating yet”, said Varadkar.
He said the debate concerned him, and was frustrating many in government. Those advocating for zero-Covid are saying that in “three months we’ll live like New Zealand. That’s a false promise, it really is,” he said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
If the lazy pr###s who didn’t bother to exercise their right to vote actually voted, this result would be different! In future, those of you who complain but don’t vote, shut up, you don’t have the right to express an opinion in my view.
@Andrew Kenny:
What was the turnout?
@Garry Coll: Around 50%. Disgraceful.
@Andrew Kenny: half the voters didn’t even put pencil to paper??? That’s a shocking inditement
@Andrew Kenny: Absolutely right Andrew. It might be that they are happy with Santa Claus payments and don’t give a F about the rest of the year. Anybody who has a rant about immigration, housing, lack of proper amenities etc, should have a rethink and ask the question…… Instead of others being the problem, are they themselves the problem???.. I’m sure they will only have to look in the mirror to find the answer.
@Frank Mc Carthy: shocking! Like your spelling.
@Andrew Kenny: Maybe a lot of people didn’t want to vote for any of these tossers.
@FlipBip: this comment is such a cop out. We are blessed to be living in a country where people have a right to vote. A right to make a choice. Take that right away and you end up living in a country with a dictator, with no choice. Voter apathy is infuriating and shows nothing but ignorance.
@Andrew Kenny:
Any link to that?
@Topgun: Drama queen.
@Topgun: Lol and what about the apathy and ignorance shown by those who keep voting for the same clowns over and over again? Save some anger for them. The system is broken and won’t be fixed by voting, sorry to say.
@Topgun: The right to vote is not taken away if a person chooses not to do so. Your dictatorship rants makes no sense at all and shows your own level of ignorance.
@Andrew Kenny: Do you know that for sure?
@FlipBip: that’s their vote, their choice. That’s democracy. If you want to change the outcome go out and vote.
@damien leen: what an excellent, articulate response. You sound like a SF voter.
@Topgun: My vote doesn’t matter
@Sun Rise: the point is that if we had no vote it would be a dictatorship. But you knew that.,right? We live in a democracy so vote and accept the result.
@FlipBip: I’m beginning to think you could be on to something here.
@Andrew Kenny: cut their dole and they might vote
They are basically one party now, anything to hold onto power, they believe in nothing but absolute power and that’s why the country’s a mess
@Dave G Doe: 60% of the electorate didn’t vote for them.
If the exit poll is right then this has been a very poor election for Fianna Fáil. Given the issues Sinn Féin have had and the disastrous campaigning from Simon Harris, most within FF would have expected their party to win the most 1st preference votes. Micheál Martin must surely come under pressure from within when the dust settles.
@Dave G Doe:” anbsoltue” train crash of the english language:)
@Dave G Doe: 5 years of lies from fffg you mean
If either Harris or Martin become Taoiseach, in a very short time they will be getting the Kier Starter treatment from the voters.
Their media partners will try and protect them, but it won’t take much to tip the scale.
Why then did people vote for their parties, is a valid question.
People are set in their ways I suppose, and the alternatives were a fairly fractured group without a cohesive message, constantly portrayed as extremist headers.
But that will be cold comfort for Harris or Martin should the exit poll prove accurate, one of them forms a government, and then the electorate turns on them in the New Year.
@Garry Coll: Irish people have the political version of Scientology syndrome….local and selfish issues dominate,mixed in with family traditions were a sad lot really..
@David Cotter: 100% they tut tut at every scandal and corruption that’s uncovered unless its the illegal intervention of their local guy to fast track a problem they have. i.e. corruption in my favour is ok:)
If this shower get back into power then shame on anyone who gave them a vote. You obviously ,like FFG, don’t give a damn what happens to this country. Shame also on people who didn’t bother to vote. Your absence will ensure the mayhem these 2 gits and their parties have caused will continue.
@Gerry Lamont: Some people have made better choices than you in life Gerry and as a result they are in a decent position. They lived under te sa.e governments as you. Take personal responsibility for the miserable life you have.
So it’s rinse & repeat. Turn off the lights on your way out Irelands youth. Anyone who is under 30 on less than 100k can kiss any notions of any real meaningful , enjoyable existence in Ireland (95% of the U-30’s) for another 4-6 years.
Well done boomers. You’ve protected your notional property values for another few years. The ladder is well and truly pulled up after you now.
Well done greenie voters. You must really enjoy meaningless, socialist taxes hiding under the scientifically unsubstantiated climate change reasoning. Can’t wait for €3 per litre diesel. Great job.
What a farce of nation.
@Des Daly: “Well done boomers”. Indeed. The self entitled generation of today could take a leaf from our book. Grit and hard work got us to where we are. The “ladder” is always there but the will and determination to climb it has apparently vanished.
@Mies Valkenburg: property purchase maths do not add up the same with the current generation as it does for the boomer generation. This is an inescapable FACT. Boomers could purchase a house for 3-4 times the national industrial wage. In 2024 purchasing a house is 10 times the national minimum wage average. Also the current generation have to listen to the boomers gas lighting & empathy vacuous statements like “back in our day” or “other people are doing it”. So yeah. Well done with that ladder.
@Des Daly: what was the alternative? A SF party whose maths doesn’t add up?
promises the world but won’t say where money is going to come from.
don’t get wrong i think FFFG are useless but a safer bet than alternative.
@Des Daly: Oh please! I was nearly forty when I bought my first house in this country. This is after returning from working overseas for nearly twenty years. I didn’t sit at home in my parent’s spare room and whine about the unfairness of it all. The “current generation”, as you call it, don’t appear have the wit or the nous to improve their situation. Evidently, begrudgery is still our most famous trait.
with the low turn out i reckon the margin of error might a bit larger this time.interesting to see how it pans out.
@MHM:
What was the turnout?
@Garry Coll: around 50%
@Gillian OCoinne: A sad reflection on a on democratic system that has been undermined and basically kneecapped by powerful vested interests. It suits the Haves that many less well off people don’t vote. Not just here, worldwide.
@Daniel Gilroy: I was a polling clerk today and the elderly and middle aged came out to vote. No sign of young people or young professionals. Very disappointing to witness the poor turnout and the age demographic of voters.
@Topgun: we need elections in colder weather::)
@Gillian OCoinne:
Any link to that figure.
The likely outcome unfortunately will probably be a centre-left to left-wing establishment coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and the Social Democrats. It’s a sad reflection on our society that this is the best that we can muster up. Someday, there will be a transformational leader in the mould of Javier Milei who will run for election in Ireland with a fresh new party and will win. Then we will finally see and end to the stale leftist policies that have had a stranglehold on this nation and we will begin to finally flourish with proper free-market capitalist policies in place.
@Frank O’Hara: just like where, for example?
@Frank O’Hara: go back to bed there hon , your tablets should kick in any minute now
@Frank O’Hara: what,
leftist policies? f
FFG are centre right to right wing.
So nothing changes if this happens well done people of ireland don’t complain again you didn’t change
@Dave G Doe: can you show us on the doll where leo touched you?
@Dave G Doe: its ok if you cant say…but we are here for you.
@Dave G Doe: over change
Great news. No Sinn Fein in government again. Well done Ireland.
Lads we’re sheep, Time to bring in fining you for not voting, FF and FG are back at the table with Liebour, Greedy Greens and few independents who are former members of the above parties.
@Dave G Doe: so you want to be taxed further and erode more rights at work. We as TAXPAYERS might as well as sign up en-mass to be on the dole as your minded there and you every thing handed to you for free. Eg: Housing, Healthcare, Free Travel.
As expected. FF and FG with a new mudguard, probably either Labour or SD or maybe both.
FG, FF, Lab and the Greens.
@P. J.: FF, FG, SD
@Topgun: if SD prop up FFG they will not exist in next election
@P. J.: ff fg and Labour same old grind again but if greens are back in even worse so, not enough voted and not enough are waking up to reality, just fear of the unknown which is asleep at the wheel.
@Topgun:
Certainly possible but I think SD, just like lab, could be a few short, hence the greens who have said will join any government.
@Paddy C:
I have a question, why do so many commentators on here assume that if more people voted it would have been good for the opposition? It could just as easily have led to more for FFG.
Sounds to me like the losers in this election are desperately trying to find an excuse for that loss.
Poor old mehole. FF knives will be out
@David Cotter: Good, he’s an odious individual.
@David Cotter: As the man said, he’s proper funked now. Hahaha
@David Cotter:
Michael Martin has been the leader of FF for almost 14 years, he will his get 2.5 years as top man and then retire.
Yay…5 more years of the cartel…high energy bills, endless queues at hospitals, out of control house & rent prices, attack on freedom of speech & children being exposed to pornography, democracy in action, wonderful isn’t it.
@Dave G Doe: is that “G” for Gimp?
@ron don: thought the G was for Gowl?
@ron don: gripped… obsessed.. his comments are getting a tad creepy.
Listen, I’m gay so my opinion matters more. That’s all I have to say on the matter.
@Stephen: Hi sailor ;)
@Anthony Curran: I run a small academy for lobsters.
No one can complain in future months about government policies, The people have spoken and shown their low intellect, if FFG and the greens are elected its time to put up and shut up.
@087 bed: in my view theres 3 demographics that keep FFG in control.the civil service, who want corruption to continue for financial gain, the SME sector who get break employment laws at will without consequence and pensioners who are told by RTE that anyone else is bad.
@Dave G Doe: why?
@Dave G Doe: you went on hunger strike?
@Dave G Doe: you should be ashamed of yourself for a comment like that
This is not democracy
my prediction is 65 seats for SF, mehole martin will be in a plane crash and wake up on an island where everyday he finds a message in a bottle on the beach telling him his property tax is overdue, on the same flight simon harris will wake up in a residential care unit with his boss telling him he’s not doing enough…..forever.. Just before they learn the errors of their ways, Trump nukes New York and howth over planning permission for the new golf course……wait is this a fever dream?
@Dave G Doe: i voted for fg btw
@Dave G Doe: i run a small political think tank and from the data we have gathered 95% of fine gael members are gay or bi sexual so we look forward to our continued collaboration with the fine gael party in going forward for our policies for future elections and a rebranding of fine gael to fine gay.
The show is almost over but I don’t think the fat lady will be singing.
This rotating Taoiseach thing will eventually make the people of Ireland wake up. Essentially they are now one party but the share out of the goodies is keeping them apart. Eventually the people will get fed up of this. In the meantime we must accept our money being confiscated, then wasted, and feasted upon. There’ll be some party with the Apple money for those in the circle.
My blood in the USA are so full off their corrupt that they think been irish is a way out not anymore
The biggest party who fot the most votes… should govern..this coalition shit is just wrong
They will carve it up between themselves forever.
You did it again people.
have your say