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A MAJOR SURVEY published yesterday found that Irish people are angrier and more frustrated right now than at any stage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While this might not be news to most of us, it appears to have fallen on deaf ears in the government.
The confusion in the last few days about how the government plans to handle the next phase of the pandemic was not just about mixed messages, but also about plain old bad communication.
Essentially, delivering bad news, badly.
Speaking to reporters last night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked if the government had a problem with communicating a clear plan.
“No, the message is the clearest message of all: we all have to be careful with the virus, especially with the new variant which is more dangerous and does more damage to people. The basic message is we have to be careful going forward. Eventually we will open the schools and we will be able to do more week after week.”
Was this a head in the sand approach? Because there’s no denying the numerous (avoidable) bumps for government communications in recent days.
It started first thing on Monday morning last week, with the cock-up of not inviting certain media outlets to a briefing with the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. It was only solved when a senior reporter from RTÉ refused to cover the event unless all media were allowed in.
Then there was a news of the mass vaccination centres later that day. What could have been a big good news story for government was instead publicised by press release, with no press conference, and before some hotels had even been informed they were on the list.
Then there was the confusion about school restart dates throughout the week.
When asked about that yesterday evening, Martin said: ”We have a responsibility to speak to the media, we have to speak to the media. We have a responsibility to speak to the Oireachtas. I don’t think there’s any way around that. And we have to be honest, too, in speaking to the media.”
Fast forward to the weekly sub-Cabinet meeting last Thursday, where information leaked out that ministers were told that Level 5 wasn’t going away any time soon.
A big blow for people to hear about on Twitter.
Members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said any unwinding should be gradual, staggered, and that it wants to monitor each chess move for what impact it might have.
On Friday, the Irish Daily Mirror published an interview with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in which he said that “until the end of April you can look at significant restrictions”. Another big blow to the public.
Martin claims that he said “into April”, rather than “the end of April” (even though a record of the interview shows that he did in fact say “the end of April”) and says that there will be a review of the situation after Easter (4 April).
While the idea of a nine-week lockdown at this stage came as a shock to many people, it is something the Taoiseach maintains he has been flagging since January.
“When you look at what I have said in the Dáil since January onwards, I’ve had one message: that we will be careful and slow,” Martin told reporters last night.
“I have been very clear in the Dáil that difficult times are ahead of us. On the other hand, vaccines give us hope and the ability to conquer the virus.”
To be fair, on 23 January, Martin said people should expect restrictions to be in place for the first six months of the year. On 11 February, he said restrictions will be in place until at least Easter.
So, yes. The message from government since the beginning of the year has been ‘we are not getting out of this anytime soon’.
It has been “well trailed”, as he pointed out last week. But government’s error is it has failed to read the mood of the nation as the months ticked on.
It has also failed to remember that not everyone hangs on to every word of the Taoiseach, or tunes into Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil each day that it’s on, or listens to RTÉ daily, or, in fact, engages in any news anymore given how grim it has become.
The problem is that when people heard those stark messages in January and February, the cases were high, and hospitals were in crisis. The shoulders were to the wheel.
We’re now weeks into this.
Until last night, the Taoiseach has not addressed the public since 26 January when he announced the extension of Level 5 lockdown.
At the time, the Christmas comedown had well and truly kicked in. Even when asked by TheJournal.ie if the Taoiseach had any good news, none was forthcoming.
Instead it has been dribs and drabs of bad news being leaked out over the last number of weeks, and it just won’t cut it for people this time around. There’s no fuel left in the tank.
Last night was the Taoiseach’s opportunity to inject some hope into people. Instead, it’s at least another six weeks of the same.
But how do some of his government colleagues think it will be received?
One said the plan has to work as the government doesn’t want, nor can it entertain, another lockdown. “It will have to work, because it has to,” they said.
Another was not so optimistic, stating that the message yesterday from the Taoiseach was “we have no plan, but stick with it, and we’ll get through it, some day”.
When asked by this publication last week if the government “had lost the room”, the Taoiseach replied no, stating that people were struggling to deal with the news that easing would be slow.
But efforts are waining. One-third of the population is not staying within 10km of home, despite 5km limitations, new research has revealed.
Senior sources in government have said that the level of anger is palpable. They know that many are tapping out, saying they are checking out of this, and not willing to adhere to restrictions.
The answer? One core message from government, for as many people as possible to stick to it, and for a glimmer of hope to be given to people. Some leadership. And if government leaders don’t know the answer to something, say so.
If government continues to fail to read the room, this new plan will hardly be worth the paper it’s written on.
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We’re doomed if this government stays in power they’re clueless
@Noel Donohue: I keep asking the same question here day after day but get no proper answer. If this government goes what do we replace them with?
Northern Ireland has shown us that SF is a shaky coalition partner besides which they will struggle to find willing partners besides which there is no sign at all of the tension & squabbling within government necessary to force an election.
Just can’t see it I’m afraid.
@Justin Gillespie: maybe give some of the new parties a chance. Renua, Irish Freedom Party, Aontu.. they can’t do a worse job than these criminals
@Justin Gillespie: They need to resign now and stop this lockdown. You can replace them with Queenie the chicken for all I care.
@Justin Gillespie: Dustin the Turkey
@Justin Gillespie: You’re like a FFG cheerleader on here everyday. Michael Martin would be packing his bag for the White House if he had of been invited. That in itself speaks volumes of what he thinks of the Irish people.
@Justin Gillespie: You can’t compare how Sinn Féin fair in the North under British rule in power sharing with the DUP and how Sinn Féin would operate in the Dáil with a majority or as the majority coalition partner, they are completely different political landscapes with a completely different set of goals.
@Justin Gillespie: Stop using N.I they have the D.U.P to contend with its a whole different entity up there. I am not a S.F supporter but at this stage I am willing to let anyone have a go now. They cannot do any more damage to the country then what’s been done already
They have now completely lost the Irish people. We seriously need fresh ideas. The present government are an unmitigated disaster stumbling from one mess to another. Martin’s regurgitated waffle last night proved he is seriously out of his depth. When Boris starts coming across as the intelligent one you know we seriously need change.
@Justin Gillespie: here’s something you might grasp. A football club that is struggling badly with a long run of poor results and performances, doesn’t take the view that ‘its better the devil you know’.. They will sack the underperforming manager and seek to appoint a new one in the hope of better results and performance. Until that new manager comes in and his/her backroom team and are given some time to implement their ideas, only then can they be judged and that question answered… Simples
@Justin Gillespie: To be fair NI’s political landscape is completely different to Ireland’s political landscape. Comparing SF north to SF South is ridiculous. I am not a SF’er but this government’s handling of the pandemic is a disgrace and has been since this government came to power.
@Ferg: So let me get this straight, we have proposals here for Dustin, Queenie the chicken, The Irish Freedom Party, Renua & Sinn Fein despite the fact that they couldnt come near putting the numbers together last time.
As if that wasnt bad enough there is no sign of the present government collapsing, without that happening everything else is just wishful thinking.
For the record I tbi k the present government has handled the pandemic poorly but that doesnt mean that I am willing to trust a SF led hodhe podge that would be infinitely worse.
Just my opinion.
@Ferg: thoughts to consider SF leader says hotel mandatory quarentine for foriegn travel – does SF include NI or not and how do SF intend to close the border or otherwise without say we need an all island approach and blame the DUP? The government and the people of Ireland moved us from 10th to over 40th in the death list, kept spare bed and ICU capacity. Up until the people of Ireland threw caution to the wind at Christmas we were the envy of Europe along with Norway, Finland and Iceland. Even now we have done well in reducing numbers. Of course the government is a disgrace, no one is happy like the lady who opened shop or the people who want to close more shops, the people who flew away on holidays and those that want the airports shut, want the pubs open and went to illegal gathering.
@Justin Gillespie: I think mary lou would be far better than what we have at the moment. It has been a shambles
@Rocky Stefan: so you want to switch the slow witted for the backwards thinking?
@Justin Gillespie: We already have an inept three party hodge podge. So what would be different.
@Justin Gillespie: The norths politics is fairly different then the Republics, comparing apples and oranges there so you are. A bit more growth and a few more candidates next time aroundnand SF may not even need a coalition partner. Honestly though, could rhey do any worse then FF/FG?? They have ran the country single handedly for over 100 years and still feck up stuff.
The fact he has to come out and defend the poor communication by saying the message is clear just highlights the fact the message isn’t clear!!!!
@Michael Wynne: but they had power to rise them wages recently and we are quiet I’m not surprised they treat citizens like that
@Michael Wynne:
The message is crystal clear. It’s just, we the audience, are fed up of lockdowns and don’t like central message one little bit. A little longer before things can open up! Sports, 5 k travel limit, etc!
But, as An Taoiseach stated, we’ll get through it by being sensible, paying heed to guidelines, acting responsibly, and awaiting vax rollout, which is about to greatly accelerate during coming 16 weeks. We can all play our part in winning this battle against a potentially lethal virus which is still running riot in our communities, with high risk of latest mutations causing more chaos.
Any objective assessment of current Govt’s performance would suggest it’s doing its best in very trying times, and obviously must adopt a very cautious approach.
#FreeNavalny
@Rory J Leonard: how long have we being hearing this mantra of just a bit longer?
@Rory J Leonard: what lethal virus? The vast, vast majority of the population have no issue with it when contracted. Unless you mean that our one dimensional response of lockdown after lockdown is lethal, in the impact its having on mental health, physical health, missed diagnosis and loss of livelihoods? The great news is that Covid-19 solved the winter flu this year – no one died from it apparently!
@Rory J Leonard: Was that serious…? I honestly can’t tell.
The fact that we have the same strict restrictions as Cuba, Honduras and Peru speaks volumes. Most ireland ppl will think it’s a good thing and the government have and have had our best interests at heart. Third world healthcare service which will which has no chance now. This pandemic has shown the poor leadership that has existed in this country for decades.
@Neil Melly: Have Cuba not one off the best healthcare systems in the world
@Shaun Gallagher: That was my understanding too. Its definitely not worse than here
@Neil Melly: spot on. Yet you have this conversation with so many here and then discuss who they will vote for next time and its FG and FF. Madness.
@Jess Delahunt: You don’t understand Jess, we all know this government is poor but what we fear is that any of the alternatives on offer would be infinitely worse.
@Justin Gillespie: How do you know this? We have loads of evidence that FF and FG can’t govern but no evidence that the others can’t. It’s time the two main parties were benched for a while. It might realign their minds a bit.
@Justin Gillespie: You may fear that but many, many are hoping for the day we have a government that will tackle the issues that affect us – the housing crisis, the health crisis etc.
@Justin Gillespie: “You don’t understand”. Classic arrogant response from a FG bot. You’re not helping your party with these responses Justin.
@Justin Gillespie: Seriously how worse can they be??Take a look at what we have and tell me you have the utmost confidence in them! Do you believe Martin is up to the job, Do you think Donnelly is a competent Health Minister or McEntee , Foley etc fir that matter. As for Varadkar he’s not even worth consideration. It’s been a nevrr ending debacle.
@Justin Gillespie: I think its the middle classes in Ireland ingrained fear of the left
Fear is not a reason not to change
@Jess Delahunt: Show me the make up of the government we would have if Ff/FG are benched.
It would be a mish mash of SF who are republicans, all sorts of left wingers who cant agree on anything and independents who who would play pork barrell politics all day long.
The numbers simply arent there for an alternative government that would be significantly better than the present poor effort.
Our brave and fearless leader, Micheal “Am I out of touch? No, it’s the *people* who are wrong” Martin.
He really has some pair on him to continue insulting the people of this country the way he does
@InvaderSkoodge: I think is time to resign and leave someone else who has some vision and plans for future
@InvaderSkoodge: He resembles the grim reaper.” The end is truly in sight “. Interesting that they say they have factored in problems with the AstraZeneca vaccine supply that dont actually exist.
We’re long past the stage of “we can do it” speeches. The Taoiseach himself started the speculation without scientific evidence, he threw out dates based on a hunch he had and now many can’t believe what he’s saying about anything.
Most people will continue to obey the regulations though out of respect for the common good and our health professionals but to expect the citizens to sit tight until April 5th is a very big ask. It’s too long to wait, if he wants to regain some control and respect he needs to update every 2 weeks minimum or preferably every week by using scientific data to explain progress.
I won’t hold my breath.
Micheál Martin and Stephen Donnelly are cleay out of their depth here and should step aside. They are making a bad situation worse. Micheál with his blundering inconsistent announcements and Donnelly, just doesn’t have a clue
@Rhoda Cunningham:
FG is in there too and Greens. Don’t forget that they’re all sh!te.
@Darren Anthony Corr: I completely agree with you. We just have to listen to that pair of muppets more than Leo and what’s his name from the Greens!
If you have to hold a press conference to defend your previous press conference you are doing it poorly.
If your response to how people are receiving communications is ‘no, people are struggling to deal with the news’ that indicates you have failed to effectively communicate your message. Effective communication not only has to factor in how a message is conveyed, but also how it is received, and both need to be adaptable
@D. Memery: correct. It seems like every time there is an “announcement” (read: leak, twitter waffle, garbled radio interview, etc) from the government, it is inevitably followed up with the “minister/taoiseach/tanaiste clarifies remarks” article.
I’ve never seen so much clarification with so little clarity
The message was clear at the last 2 elections… why is he still here?
@Me Darlin’ Dublin: because of the election. You can’t just ignore the votes you don’t like
@Thomas O’ Donnell: Like FFG did at government formation you mean ?
@Me Darlin’ Dublin: politicians only see what suits them. For years and years it was essentially harmless because most issues were benign but now that we need them they’re still politicking and playing games when to quote a green td last time they were in government “they have to do what’s right even if it means losing their seat”. This attitude is mainly a fg leo thing who thinks anything can be solved with spin because most people are stupid and want to live in la la land, when really we’re desperate for help and comfort and we’re getting neither.
@Justin Gillespie: Typical arrogant and condescending response from a FG bot. I understand fully Justin. Maybe you should have that conversation with one of your leaders. The hapless one or the liar. Take your pick. The fact that you would continue to support this government regardless of how bad it gets with them says more about you then it does about me.
@Me Darlin’ Dublin: Our current national leader won his Dail seat on the 6th vote count with a pile of transfers. Whilst I am not 100% advocating a first past the post system, there has to be a better system. Also, two other cabinet ministers were elected in this constituency AFTER Martin, which were Coveney and McGrath. McGrath claimed the 4th seat but incidentally didn’t even meet the threshold.
Michael Martin,
“its the most contagious strain and it’s in 90% of irish infections…. we are have to be very tough, so we are opening the schools for teenagers”… Drop mic….
I’m pretty sure the virus doesn’t give a toss about the leaving cert.
@Mick Staines: never stop on about that leaving cert.
How many advisers has this government got & they still haven’t a clue,
@Christybhoy67: Agreed, the “Dunce” Foley hired a PR company (I wonder which one ?) before she gave a recent briefing (I’d say very BRIEF) to the cabinet on the back to school status
The whole reason we stay in lockdown is to ease pressure on health services. It shows the severe lack in this sector and I would say real money needs to be put in to make real changes. Not just pretend money to hire administrators. Hire doctors and nurses and consultants, reduce waiting lists, find a way to improve health services.
@Seeking Truth: The crux of the problem is they don’t want to improve the public health service they want to privatise it, for that to happen the current system has to seem unfixable that is why we get decision after decision that have the public scratching their heads and the gov defending doggedly.
@Seanboy: nail on head. The PD’s and FG are neo Liberal capitalists Tory and Regan disciples who want the services a state should provide, provided by the private sector. A vote for this ideology is a vote for the reality of our current health and housing situations
@Jess Delahunt: the PDs were dissolved o er a decade ago
@Seeking Truth: they don’t find a solution for over 20 years to improve health system do you think they will find now?I doubt it
@Seeking Truth: Agreed, but don’t forget we have to spend more money on awarding our “hard working and intelligent” (sic) government ministers an increase in salary while student nurses are not really paid anything.
@Sara McS: they set up the HSE under Harney
Clear as mud Michael, clear as mud.
No proper plan. Just open school’s… That’s it.
Government. What Government
@Damian Ryan: Open the schools and use the kids with a leaving cert as guinea pigs to see if it’s safe despite no new safety measures and new and more dangerous variants. It’s beyond reckless.
@Declan Doherty: to be fair alot of those teenagers are out hanging around with each other anyway with out masks or any social distancing
@Damian Ryan: thats exactly it Damo
@Damo: Opp’s
@Sam Harms: I’ve noticed a large increase in kids hanging around the last week or 2. But they do that by choice. Bringing 6th years back to school to see how it goes with the new variant is removing that choice for many and using them as guinea pigs. It’s either safe to mix or it’s not but he’s trying to talk out both sides of his mouth on this issue. I’d also suggest that it’s much safer to hang around in a group outside then to be packed into freezing classrooms for hours on end.
@Damian Ryan: And pay rises.
An absolute shambles of a government. More concerned about point scoring and undermining one another than anything else. The whole country knew what he was going to say yesterday before he opened his mouth on the news.
The UK variant has to be treated like a new virus apparently. So we are back to square one. For March 2021, read March 2020.
This government revels in peoples pain. Where is the hope and the map of the way out of this?
The mental health of many people has been destroyed due to constant rolling lockdowns. We all need a way out of this.
“1 millions doses in April, May and June”
Tall order from a government that took a month and a half to administer 300k vaccines. How can they expect anyone to believe them when their communication has been fuzzy, rare and often inaccurate?
@King George VI: Agreed and 10 months approx to “debate” if there should be absolute quarantining for all arrivals in guarded hotels. It now may take 3 to 4 weeks until this is approved.
@Jim Murphy: Leo has come out again this morning and said mandatory quarantine isn’t necessary. He’s been opposed to it from day 1. He needs to go.
Message is so clear he constantly has to come out and make these statements.
The strategy and communication of Ireland’s plan to tackle covid under Micheal Martin and Stephen Donnelly is clear and convincing. Said nobody ever
The plan is, there is no plan.
@Darren Lambe: it is just we are a bunch of 1di0ts to see that and understand this “clear” message mm opinion
If you were looking for a bog standard irish politician, mehole would still be a disappointment. This job is way too big for him.
Good man Mehole. The best strategy, deny everything. He should consider a career in comedy after his hilarious attempt at running the country
More thicker than I taught
@Paul Dolan: *thought, unless you’re a teacher
@Paul Dolan: Your post gave me a much needed laugh this morning. Good man Paul.
@Justin Gillespie: Maybe instead of laughing at people you could actually answer their replies to your comments.
@Franny Ando: He’s too busy being a self-amused FFG sycophant…
FFG were out in force on the airwaves last night defending their Covid strategies. As a government, they are in total disarray. As the old political adage goes, “once you’re explaining, you’re losing”. This Government lost the people with M. Martin’s insistence on going to Washington if invited. They will find it very difficult to win the people back and have only themselves to blame.
@Jack Cass: Totally agreed, I would say it may have been Martin’s only opportunity to go to the White House.
@Jack Cass: as soon as you’re defending /explaining – proves you’re losing…. Big time
He always say THE new variant. Like it is the only variant!. Its sounds so naive. Furthermore it is clearly a devised strategy to essentially say, “we are not to blame, its THE variant”
They will then, in the same breath, proclaim how strong our border procedures are and that international travel is not a major spreader of the virus
@Jess Delahunt: where did the first variant go.
@John brett: on the same way like normal flu
FF will be lucky to have 7 TDs After the next election – they’ve been a disaster – far worse than I could have imagined -
@Thomas Harrington: Agreed, the coalition parties will all have problems. Look what happened to the minor parties in coalition before. FF need a strong leader, so do FG.
We have a border right beside us in Dundalk .not one car has been turned round for crossing the border no fines issued but if Ur known to the Garda Ur fined for being 2 k from home just bully boys this government has to go we are the laughing stock of the world
Martin is a typical FF TD. Looking forward to Leo returning as Taoiseach.
@Garbhán Ó Ruis: From bad to worse. No thanks.
@Garbhán Ó Ruis: You’re joking, right?
@Garbhán Ó Ruis: are you brain dead? I’m being serious. Do you not see the link between neo Liberal Leo and FG and our current health system and machinery of state and the underlying reasons we are failing to manage covid
A major issue in Ireland is the surface level understanding of politics and people’s ease of falling for optics which is Mr varadkars dole talent
@Garbhán Ó Ruis: Leo is a bigger problem then MM. He’s just a lot more sly in the way he undermines everything and his leaking of documents and subsequent lies in the Dail have left him too tarnished to become Taoiseach again. Leo needs to go too.
@Garbhán Ó Ruis:
Nah
If their message is so clear why do they have to be repeatedly clarifying what they’ve said.
@Jason Ebbs: because some Irish people are thick and don’t get the message first time round. The message is the same since March 2020, wash hands, stay 2 meters apart , reduce contacts, work from home where possible and take personal responsibility. Some Irish people can’t seem to grasp that regardless of who is in government
@David O’Rourke: But David, I thought this was a constantly changing situation? Another government apologist recently suggested it was impossible to have a plan, as you can’t plan for something that changes, sometimes on a daily basis, like this virus. Seems like even the apologists can’t even agree.
This government has had too many chances already and needs to go. We need a general election ASAP. People have had enough of this incompetence and there’s no going back.
@Declan Doherty: Agreed, my only concern is that there will be another coalition and are they up to it, worth a try, they could not do any worse.
Goes to show then how they really function and what they think.
For the good of Ireland please go
I’m sorry but there person sending the message doesn’t get to say whether or not it’s been communicated clearly or not, that’s up to the people receiving the message. With the amount of leaks and back tracking there have been I wouldn’t say communication has been clear at all.
The Taoiseach is now suffering from “The Peter Principle”:
What does the Peter Principle mean?
The Peter Principle is an observation that the tendency in most organizational hierarchies, such as that of a corporation, is for every employee to rise in the hierarchy through promotion until they reach a level of respective incompetence.
This can definitely apply to many in Government, especially Donnelly and The Dunce.
There is no new living with covid roadmap should be called SURVIVE WITH COVID
@Robert Robert: exactly that. Be a good people there and ‘exist’. These lads are clueless and refuse to make a decision because the oh so many vested interests cant be disgruntled. Sorted their payrise though, and another on the way for them, absolute chancers
It’s like having a bad manager at work.
Chaos.
The Daily Mirror. Case closed
Message is loud and clear as confirmed by Leo in the press conference that followed – There’s no real plan or framework to give hope and leadership… The government doesn’t want to be held to any targets/dates
Still took your big pay rise,any party would be better than these three.Give others a chance.
A mentor previously told me that once you’re explaining/clarifying – You’re losing!
MM having to explain that the ‘message is there and it’s clear’ confirms he and this game playing Govt are losing (the respect and trust of the people) badly!
We need Churchill not Chamberlain! Leaders who are not afraid to make decisions because they are unpopular. I want leaders who are going to make hard decisions in the interest of the public. Why is the vaccination roll out so slow? Why have we not introduced mandatory quarantine for all people coming into the country, yet and this is still being debated? I completely understand that there are few easy decisions to be made by any leader during a pandemic – no matter what you do, people will be negatively affected.
“Expected shortfall of 90m doses could hit the EU’s ability to meet its target” – Today’s Guardian. Vaccines are the only thing that will end this lockdown and get business and social life moving again but our government is still hitching its wagon to the EU incompetent donkey.
We buy nearly all our domestic appliances, technology, everything from computers to clothespegs from China so why can’t we buy the vaccines?
@Bramley Hawthorne: We can but like everything else with this government, we’re just not going to bother.
And the media are part of the problem trying to out do each with “scoops” and sound bites to put fear and anger into people
I wonder did anyone get the coalition to confirm was it a unanimous decision to the easing of restrictions for the Christmas “silly season” or what party promoted it against all the experts advise.
The longest lock down in Europe.
€60billion + added to our national debt.
Leaving one hell of a mess before they get kick out again.
Why do we expect a different outcome with the same gobeens.
I am now going to turn off my phone for a week. I am tired.
After ANY of these eejits give any kind of public address and appear on any tv show to explain, they always create confusion and someone always comes out with the line “the message is clear” – they’re so condescending. No Michael, No Stephen, No Leo, the message isn’t clear at all, because you can’t communicate for sweets!
The Irish people can only blame themselves for voting like a battered partner. “This time it will be different” but it never is!
The only thing we should be giving out about is why are we not making more vaccines. 4 million needed for us, another 8 billion after that, twice a year, for the rest of the world. Makes no sense, more factories more production. My guess is the lack of production comes down to the promise to not make a profit for producing the vaccines. If they were 50€ a shot businesses would take over building or repurposing many more factories, we would all be vaccinated by now. We need the capacity to produce the current vaccines and will need the same infrastructure for the future vaccines, we need to think far bigger and scale up x100.
The message is clear we are out of ideas so we will keep it locked down till there is enough ppl vaccinated to not need to find a new idea they just haven’t the ability to tell us the truth
The EU are to blame for their incompetence to delays in approving and ordering vaccines. Making sure they were covered “legally” seemed to be their main concern.
According to recent press reports “Ursula von der Leyen left many problems behind her in her own country”.
Agreeing to such an important contract on a “best efforts” basis was ridiculous, ok for small business deals, not for people’s lives.
The new plan is not worth the paper it’s printed on, the people have had enough and slowly buy surely the people are starting to walk away and do what suits them and their families, the trickle will turn into a flood soon enough.
This is just another example of the Freak show that Irish media has become, It is now the domain of conspiracy theorists and fanatics
I can’t believe that dithering A-SEHOLE is running our country
If it’s safe for classrooms to be full of children, isn’t it surely safe for our politicians to lead by example and get back into the Dail.
The message is clear we are out of ideas so we will keep it locked down till there is enough ppl vaccinated to not need to find a new idea they just havnt the ability to tell us the truth
Why don’t you actually query the substance of the restrictions instead of obsessing about how they are delivered?
Has the Journal ever used it’s access to the decision makers to ask them what data backs up Ireland being the only country in the world to deem house building a “non-essential” activity?
The sheer arrogance of the man to suggest that despite countless people believing this government’s communications to be an awful shambles, no, actually, *we’re* the ones with the problem. Every time you think he or his contempt for the public can’t get any worse… And Donnelly seems no better if his recent treatment of Leas Ceann Comhairle extends to other people he works with. Honestly, never thought I’d say it, but even SF deserves a chance at governance at this point.
Why don’t you actually query the substance of the restrictions instead of obsessing about how they are delivered?
Has the Journal ever used it’s access to the decision makers to ask them what data backs up Ireland being the only country in the world to deem house building a “non-essential” activity?
Varadkar said the new road map will clear up all the mixed messaging. Our government are now giving mixed messages about whether there’s been mixed messages. Is this a joke? Seriously. They’re a disgrace.
If someone starts a rebellion tell me, I’m down for that. These clowns haven’t a clue how hard the lockdowns are effecting us
Cheer up lads, we’re already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!
One big push, let’s not be complacent, it’s nearly over now, only a matter of weeks!
…oh FFS, who am I kidding?
No clear plan, no responsibility, tracing and testing is anywhere between a joke and “mostly coping”. Not that vaccination is that much better… 7% of the population at this stage!
There is one thing we can be proud of: we have the 7th most draconian lockdown in the world, with no end in sight.
Rise people rise and game over
We have a real divide in our society perpetrated by a government and a civil service immune from the economic hardship. A lady arrested today trying to keep her business viable. A funeral in my town today in a church capable of holding 600 people. 10 left in maybe 15. At least 400 people lined the streets to pay their respects. Common sense has been sacrificed at the altar of a police state driven by hysteria and incompetence covering up a woeful mismanagement of our health services. Our taxes paying a bloated civil making decisions to bankrupt thousands of small businesses and wreck more lives than covid-19 will. I also have friends with delayed cancer treatment, but they too are sacrificed at the altar of covid-19 hysteria.
I the majority of the public find the government’s message unclear, the it is.
Which communications is he one about, The Gov / NPHET ones on TV, his, leos or other ministers articles in newspapers or interviews on radio, or their tweets, fb and instagram posts !!! Yeah the message is clear alright, what is clear is the constant need for self publicity, what is also clear is the consistent inconsistencies throughout all these different communications.
Holly Cairns for Taoiseach.
I propose the 2 Simons, Harris and Coveney, take over. And Mary Lou for gender imbalance.
have your say