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THE TAOISEACH HAS said the government will consider the effect of the vaccine and people’s mental well-being when it considers easing Covid-19 restrictions next week.
The government will this week consider any changes to the regime ahead of an announcement next week that would apply from 5 April.
Back in February, the government flagged that the areas that would first be considered for easing are meeting other households outdoors, an extension of the 5km travel limit and a staggered return of amateur sport and construction.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News a One today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that these areas remain the focus of the government’s attention.
Asked about the roll-out of the vaccine programme, which has now reached over 10% of the population, Martin was asked whether there is a vaccine bonus that impacts the government’s ability to ease restrictions.
“We’re going to factor that into how we look at the post 5 April scenario, it’s different to what we would have done in previous situations,” he said.
The bonus will be clear in terms of avoiding mortality, avoiding severe illness and the spread, that’s the bonus. And then it opens up a decisions for us as a society which we will address to people early next week and will be working on this week.
The Taoiseach said the government will also consider the fact that more vulnerable groups are vaccinated when deciding on the level of restrictions.
He said the target for all over-70s to be fully vaccinated is still mid-May and that the aim is for them to receive their first dose is mid-April. He described these targets as “significant”.
“These are issues that we’re going to consider. The key point is this, the over -70s is a key milestone. Then you want to get the over-60s and the people with underlying conditions as well. So we are targeting the most vulnerable and it is having an impact and yes that will create a different decision-making process,” he said.
The Taoiseach also spoke about last night’s confirmation of 769 new cases of Covid-19 and concern about the potential for a continued rise in cases.
Martin said that now-dominant B117 variant is “essentially a new virus in terms of its transmissibility” and must be treated extremely carefully.
He said that the variant is the “most significant factor” in the difficulty in driving cases down further but that “more congregation and a degree more mobilisation” has also played a role.
The Taoiseach said however that Covid-19 rates are “nowhere near” what they were after Christmas and that this is due to the efforts of people.
He said people have adhered to advice in “very difficult” circumstances and that this shouldn’t be ignored.
“The strategy has worked in terms of the measures that have been taken. People by their behaviour have brought numbers significantly down to a situation where we’re now in a far better place relative to our partners in Europe,” he said.
We’re going to take that into account, the mental well-being of people, the community well-being of people. So issues like sport, outdoor activities, what can we do to help young people, that’s all in the frame for us to consider over the next week in government. But what I’m saying to people today is your efforts have borne fruit.
“We’re heading into a difficult phase now because the numbers are flattening out because of this variant, which is much more difficult to control than previous iterations of the virus.”
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When will Irish people have enough of this, I’m pro vaccine, pro herd immunity and all the rest, but this flip flop policy when it comes to lock downs just doesn’t work. We need strong leadership and a logical, clear path out of this.
@Seosamh: When did you graduate as a politician then exactly?
@Eamon Morris: here!
@Eamon Morris: Is that the only response you can come up with to every comment you reply to? Not very mature.
Are you able to offer anything yourself that might resemble an opinion?
@Eamon Morris: Since when did you need an education to be a politician ? Some of the most thickest people in the country are politicians and I think that’s the problem !!
@Eamon Morris: You could ask the same question about the characters who parade around the place as politicians also. Some of them would struggle with 6 times tables.
@Eamon Morris: that wouldn’t be a difficult course would it, 2 weeks at most, lol.
@Seosamh: but it does work, clearly, when you look at our figures compared to countries who are not implementing lockdowns or implementing diluted lockdowns. We need to understand what is required to get back to level 3, no fluffy wording, how many case numbers, what positivity rate % and what % vaccine levels. You can’t obtain herd immunity without 70%+ vaccination levels so if you believe in herd immunity then that’s the target.
@Seosamh: It is impossible to have a clear path when dealing with a pandemic.
When the situation can change daily you have to react all the time.
@Eamon Morris: didn’t realise you had to graduate to become a politician? The way most of them go on you’d wonder if they got past junior infants.
@Eamon Morris: I think you need an ‘ology’ to qualify as a TD ….. Boloxology ….
@Eamon Morris: I haven’t but as an Irish citizen, I contribute to society, pay my taxes and I’m entitled to my opinion.
@Gary Kearney: But the only reaction is to wait on other people to sort it out ie. Vaccine supply. They need to be more proactive.
@Eamon Morris: didn’t know u had to graduate to become a politician now it makes sense as they like all graduates haven’t a clue,
@Eamon Morris: Not much brains required to be an Irish politician,
@GrumpyAulFella: “You can’t obtain herd immunity without 70%+ vaccination levels so if you believe in herd immunity then that’s the target.” Not entirely true. Vaccination is the safest way, sure, but not the only way. Also, herd immunity (~70% or so) isn’t a precursor to opening things up, either.
For the love of god please ease restrictions. I can’t take it anymore. Mental health really struggling.
@R: Hanging around these comment sections certainly won’t help you.
@R:
Is that you Ted Hastings?
@Séamus Heffernan: I keep telling myself that as well but get strangely drawn to them. Seeing the worst negative qualities of people being displayed daily has a certain addictive quality, which is probably why you’re here too. I hope my family and friends are planning an intervention because I just can’t seem to stop reading and commenting…
@R: Never mind lockdowns, if you really have any issues then stay away from social media. Being tied to 5km is never a problem unless someone else tells you it is.
@R: which restrictions would you like eased? Baring in mind that easing of some restrictions will lead to more transmission of the virus and inevitably more deaths. It’s a tricky situation for the government in fairness. They know we’re struggling but at the same time they have a responsibility to protect the population. Personally I think the 5 km rule could be extended to “within your own county”. That would free some guards up to deal with bigger problems. Increase numbers allowed at funerals too and maybe let construction back.
@William Tallon: Take care of yourself.
@R: get out for a long walk R. Hugely helpful.
@R: totally agree
Unfortunately we are a very passive nation of people. We mock the likes of France over their strike/protest culture, but we are at the opposite end, ruled by corrupt authoritarians who answer to nobody.
@Ned Gerblansky: Corruption would imply a degree of planning and strategic thinking: I think you are giving them way too much credit. You forgot to mention the very effective state-owned propaganda machine assisting them with their brainwashing campaign.
@Ned Gerblansky: yes b
@Ned Gerblansky: yes but France had 30,000 Covid cases yesterday and over 100 deaths. I’m not sure that we should be looking at France at all when it comes to Covid or than to think how bad things could have been here.
@GrumpyAulFella: France has a population of 67m. If Ireland had the same rate of Covid deaths, we would have announced 7 deaths yesterday. Hardly a good example of “how bad things could have been”.
@Ned Gerblansky: I can’t say much about protests as I am foreigner so I can get only one respond go back home if I am not happy.
But I have noticed something once you show little support to protest you are marked as conspiracy theorist/right wing/anti-masker/left wing extremist etc
Where did all ordinary Paddy’s gone??
@Jason Shortt: France per head of population has had almost double our fatality numbers. They’re hardly a shining example of how to manage Covid. If Spain’s numbers take off too then France will have even more to be worried about. Germany’s numbers increasing now also. Big surge across Europe.
@GrumpyAulFella: there may be an increase in case numbers across Europe, but there is no noticeable increase in deaths (yet, anyway – we shall see).
@Jason Shortt: correct. Or even ICU numbers
@GrumpyAulFella: Yet there lockdown attitude is still not as restrictive as ours. 2 weeks to one month. Only on certain parts of these countries.
I wonder which bit of “lost the room” Michael is struggling with.
@Declan Doherty: Who’s Michael?
@Declan Doherty: His lack of carpentry skills letting him down
Why does the media let Martin get away with calling the UK variant “essentially a new virus”? This is not a new virus. It’s a variant of the same virus. It may be more transmissible, but it causes the same illness to the same group of vulnerable people (almost all of whom will have been vaccinated with 3 weeks of now, and large proportion of whom have already been fully vaccinated).
@Jason Shortt: every word out off his mouth is variant, variant, variant.. Any question regarding restrictions can now be answered with the variant reply.. Its a bit like father jack”that would be an ecumenical matter”-)
We have around 40 strains flu, will we say a new strain has to be treated different.
@Jason Shortt: … because they get to restart the clock (and brush any prior F’ups under the carpet) each time a new variant is detected!
@Jason Shortt: because it behaves so differently. Look at Fauci’s warnings about it in the US now? Granted he doesn’t say, nor does MM need to say “new virus”, new strain is sufficient. Its also not really that new here anymore.
@aidanshaw: yes like swine flu was?? This happens all the time.
@Jason Shortt: In fairness, that’s three weeks away, plus it will be a fortnight later before they achieve their peak immunity. Was he not talking there to the people who want to go further in a week?
Not going to happen folks
If you believe this lad you may aswell believe Michael Jackson is living on the moon.
While it was great to see a number of anti-mask protesters arrested at the weekend, the Gardaí should be supported more to stop the repeat offenders out every weekend. It is infuriating seeing the same attention-seekers running amok all the time and insulting our healthcare workers.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: I’m not that Rebecca, Justin is my dog!
@Rebecca BarrettNp: the biggest insult to our healthcare works the last 12 months (and decade before) has been the complete fxxing lack of investment and in the facilities they work in by our government.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: You’ve literally got Rebecca Barrett-National Party as your user name….
@Ronnie Mhelan: It’s a parody.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: pity… Would have been hilarious.
@John Egan: I agree, that’s why it’s more important now than ever before that anti-mask / anti-lockdown people are prevented from adding to the burden.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: My wife is a nurse and majority of her colleagues do not feel insulted by those protesters you’ve mentioned. Healthcare workers feel tired and fed up with restrictions the same like most of the people. Same goes for nursing home residents imagine being locked in for 12 months. Why most of the people assuming all of those protesters must be right wing or anti-mask?? Me and all my family had a Covid I am still having issues with my lungs I am looking forward to get my vaccine I wear mask indoors. I am not right wing because I am foreigner(right wing hates foreigners) I am not left wing either. But I do understand people are just fed up with restrictions as a result we have protests.
@artur fil: Sorry I don’t believe you, when you say the majority of healthcare workers such as nurses are fed up and support the protests. Where they saying the same thing back in Dec/Jan when our ICU’s were filling up and thousands of cases a week? Right-Wing because the protests are organised by the right-wing, you are attending a right wing protest that is why you are branded as right wing.
@artur fil: My husband is a doctor and he is very insulted by the protesters.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: That’s a very broad brush you’re using there.
Before these protests were held I had no idea who the organisers were. I only came to know about the protests through RTÉ, who were reporting on a planned protest.
I would by no means class myself as right wing, so if I had attended after hearing about it on the national broadcaster, that would immediately make me right wing?
The world is a very simplistic place all of a sudden if that’s the case.
@artur fil: Look at the protest on Saturday and who organised it. Look at the placards, death jab etc, same individuals over again attending the protests and organising them, why was there a man arrested for carry a knife to a “peaceful protest”? Your telling everyone, that the majority of nurses don’t feel insulted by the protest? Each to their own.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: Good point Rebecca, we should have self-appointed militia and vigillante groups! Lessons from other jurisdictions and from history tells us how good an idea this is.
Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to call the Gestapo!
@JedBartlett: Hey Jed, it wouldn’t make you right wing, but I can understand why someone would call you right wing for attending the protest.
A protest organised by far right groups and you’re attending them and you’re next to their followers who are staunchly anti vaxx, kind of makes you look right wing. Not saying you are, but the optics.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Back in December we didnt have 0.5mln people vaccinated. You saying nurses are happy to be locked in in 5k limit they happy working without proper holidays???
@artur fil: I am saying they aren’t supportive of the protests. Such as the one on Saturday, where a man was arrested for carrying a knife and a protest again organised by the far right.
@artur fil: Nobody is happy with the 5km limit, no one is. But I don’t go and join protests and make the situation worse. Don’t believe for a second the majority or nurses support the protests.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Where did I say nurses supporting protests??? I said most of nurses are fed up with restrictions. They tired they need proper rest. Even if they get day off where you can go within 5k limit.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Are you spokesperson for nurses now as well as the government ? You don’t know who attended that protest anymore then you can know what every nurse thinks.
@Declan Doherty: Hey Declan, it is my opinion that the majority of nurses don’t support the protests. Why are you asking me am I the spokesperson for all nurses, but not artur the same question? Is his wife the spokesperson? I do know who organised it and I do know who some of those in attendance, yes. Like I said, far-right organised protests attended by far right individual, doesn’t make you declan far-right but it’s the optics.
Don’t attend far right organised protests, it’s not that difficult.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: You didn’t say it as your opinion though. You stated that nurses don’t support the protests as fact. And those protests are growing larger by the week. The first couple were small and any protest will always have some loons but that gets watered down as more and more people join. It’s a classic FG tactic to mislabel the protesters and have the media declare them as dangerous but jobs. As usual, you suck it up hook line and sinker and regurgitate it on here every chance you get but as a tactic it’s as transparent as your love for all things FFG.
@Declan Doherty: Sorry Declan I will from now on state it as my opinion at the beginning of my comments.
Protests aren’t getting bigger Declan, there was couple hundred at most on Saturday marching through the streets and at the GPO.
Lots of deflection there Declan, I do not like fascist organised protests, your determination to defend them is a little disturbing.
@Declan Doherty: Oh and Declan, read the comment above where I say it is my opinion.
@artur fil: Thank you I have 3 family members in healthcare. One is nurse and two in other areas. They are fed up being used as fodder by the lockdown lovers. He is fed up and so are his friends. They are fed up with these restrictions they have worked and still do work extremely hard. Thankfully it has eased big time and he says they have a better understanding now of covid which helps. They want to get on with their lives just like Joe Public.
@artur fil: Someone had to say it to Rebecca. Brainwashed by the machine. I protest against lockdown but I’m none of those labels.
I’m sure he’s worried about people’s mental well being
@Margaret Kane: You might need to take a look at what causes mental health issues seriously, and evaluate your opinion on other people. After what that man has gone through in his personal life, and then putting himself up to scrutiny for his professional life, he will understand mental health issues more than anyone on here who ticks a like for your snide remark.
@Brynþór Patrekursson: Everyone has stuff to deal with. MM isn’t unique in that. What is unique is that his inaction and incompetence has had a direct impact on the mental health of others. So spare us the sob stories.
@Declan Doherty: it’s mental health or more deaths Declan. What’s your preference?
@GrumpyAulFella: I don’t agree that it’s that black and white. How about lifting the 5km which makes no sense and would give everyone freedom to go meet family and loved ones outdoors ? How about actually looking for a solution to the vaccine issue rather then making excuses over and over again ? How about introducing a proper mandatory quarantine, if even just for a month or 2 while we try and avoid the 4th wave currently sweeping Europe ? How about an honest conversation about schools and the impact they have on the numbers so we can understand the sacrifices were being asked to make to keep them open ? How about doing anything at all to show the people that they’re prepared to play their part on this ?
@GrumpyAulFella: Mental health causes deaths also or are they of no importance.
@Brynþór Patrekursson: you want me to feel sorry for him you need to get a life and by the way I know all about mental health
The vaccination projection numbers are still silly …a small country of 5 million being way behind a neighbouring country with 65 million people in vaccine rollout us is unacceptable. Other EU countries have obtained vaccine elsewhere. Why is it so difficult here?
@Marc Power:
Because it’s the banana republic
@Marc Power: Because they have more vaccines, we are vaccination faster than most EU countries at present
@Gary Kearney: being faster than laggard and slow coaches is no achievement. If this pandemic is so acute why aren’t they scrambling to get as many doses of vaccine like other countries?
What is big pharma profitability more important than reopening our damaged economy?
@Marc Power: The russian ambassador offered Sputnik V to the irish government, he is still waiting for a reply from them.
I wish they would just grow a pair and get it, this rollout is a massive joke,
Bad idea to have all your hopes on one (vaccines) .
With airports still open and only listed country’s needing to quarantine leaves us fighting an uphill battle.
Did the Taoiseach forget how he went against NPHET advice in November and loosened the restrictions, which ultimately caused the current situation? We are being asked to limit our movements but it is still ok to arrive to Ireland form abroad without the need of undergoing a proper quarantine. It’s been a year but the government failed to deliver a well functioning contact tracing process.
@Remington: in early December Leo said there would likely be an lockdown in January, the politicians knew there would be a spike in infections over Christmas, like throughout the pandemic they under estimated the situation.
As per usual with this eunuch it’s the old do as I say not do as I do!
Only now he is looking into people’s mental health? Christ live in the real world will ya?
Just stop testing for a few weeks and give us all a break.
They need to go down the road of Level 3 or 4 for counties with very low transmission. Very poor form they’re punished because of high infections in other counties. It was done before and needs to be done again.
I heard RTE staff have received the vaccine…..
@D.B: ya heard it too from my sisters cousins uncle whose dog walkers sister cuts tubs hair.
@D.B: did you administer it yourself Doctor?
@Daniel Roche:
Was it not the nephew?
Ffs. I need a hair cut!!
I wonder how well the big company’s are getting on with the Covid wage subsidy scheme or scam for some,,while small business close on a daily basis now,
Nobody listening mate, you don’t have a clue.
Why do they have to wait until the last minute before presenting the possible actions in terms of the restrictions going forward? There are only so many scenarios to consider, give us the beef, F*S!
The British left Europe way behind In terms of people been vaccinated,, My son is 33 and is getting his. Vaccine in England this week,,Here my partner is on oxygen 24 hours a day and hasn’t a clue when she will be getting the vaccine ,,it’s a shambles the quicker people get there vaccine the quicker we get back to normal but the European Union is the laughing stock,,
Personally I don’t have a specific problem with level 5 lockdown – look at Christmas. I do however have a problem with Ireland’s insipid cowtowing to the idiot EU and Martin’s absolute refusal to look into any other lateral reaction or way of thinking in combating the virus with regards to vaccine production, prompt defense of those obeying the rules, and the overuse of blanket restrictions. Apt student, but a D minus for effort. Lazy/No initiative or imagination.
Let people play golf and tennis and other safe outdoor sports. Open up sports for children as they are playing together at school as it is. Extend the 5 kms also. All these suggestions are common sense as these closures lacked any logic to begin with. Golf has been open in Scotland sonce last May and no cases reported from there. Yesterday no cases in Kerry, 12 in the whole of county Cork and 10 in the whole of co Waterford! Come on government do the right thing!
Vaccine-bonus is unfair. It will be a long time before under-40’s will get the vaccine and it is their mental health most at risk.
Over 60’s are most at risk from longer and more severe impacts of Covid. However, keeping under 40’s locked up while over 60’s roam free will lead to a major feeling of resentment.
The under 40’s already feel left down by the impact of poor government decisions while the politicians sleep to pay rises, while the workers of this country face decades of tax increases to pay back for poor decisions of government after the 2008 financial crisis and now from poor decisions in the fight against Coronavirus.
have your say