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LAST UPDATE | 15 Oct 2021
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the Covid-19 situation “has changed” but that there’s “a variety of options” to look at ahead of a decision on the lifting of remaining restrictions.
A number of meetings are due to be held over the coming days ahead of a decision on whether to lift all remaining restrictions on 22 October.
Speaking to reporters in Cork today, the Taoiseach said that he agrees with the assessment of HSE CEO Paul Reid that “it’s not a case of pressing the panic button”.
It follows concerns earlier this week among members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) about the spread of Covid-19.
There were 1,914 cases of Covid-19 confirmed this evening with the total number of cases in the past seven days up by 33% on the previous week.
“The situation has changed in relation to the disease, of that there is no doubt, and we’re going to have to take that on board in terms of decisions we take next week,” An Taoiseach said.
He added that vaccines have “transformed the environment totally” and that the country is “in a much different position now” compared to last year because vaccinations are preventing hospitalisations.
Martin said that the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme is “already underway” to over-80s and over-65s in residential homes and that an expansion is to be discussed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
“Then we’re going to have to assess the situation then in terms of the number of cases and so on because there’s not a whole lot left to reopen,” Martin said.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris yesterday suggested that vaccine certs may remain if and when nightclubs reopen and the Taoiseach made reference to certs today.
I think behaviour is a factor and I think we will be looking at vaccination certs for example, the Covid certs that have been used so far in terms of access to hospitality. There’s a variety of options we can look at and that’s what we’re going to do but I don’t want to speculate unduly because I think it’s better we make a comprehensive decision on foot of the advice we get next week.
‘Early warning’
Speaking earlier, the HSE’s CEO Paul Reid said the resurgence of Covid-19 across the country in recent weeks is a “significant early warning” about the trajectory of the virus, but that there is no need for health officials to panic.
Reid said that although there has been a “huge swing” in Covid-19 rates and testing positivity levels across the country recently, that the vaccine rollout is working.
He Reid told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne programme that it is not the time to “hit the big red panic button”.
“We’re at a much different place than we would have been if we were looking at 2,000 cases [a day] at a different stage in this year,” he said.
“Vaccines are working. They are proving very effective… I would see what’s been happening over the past week or so not as a panic button, or a need to hit the big red panic button, but as a significant early warning of a number of interventions that we need to be conscious of.
“We’ve seen a huge swing, in cases that were declining, to very high positivity levels growing and cases growing every day.
“But… vaccines are working and protecting those who have been vaccinated from hospitalisations, illness and mortality.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said earlier that the Government has three options on lifting restrictions next week: proceed with lifting all remaining restrictions; delay or proceed while keeping some safeguards in place; or the use of vaccine certs and face masks in certain settings.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he also said the Government will consult with NPHET, which is due to meet on Monday before making a decision on Tuesday.
Harris also said that there is growing evidence for implementing a widespread booster programme in Ireland, citing Israel as an example.
“They faced similar choices and they went for the extension of the vaccine certs and a widespread booster vaccine programme and they seem to have managed to make great progress with the virus,” he said.
“We’re at a different point, this is not 2020. We live in a country now where the overwhelming majority of people are vaccinated…
“But we also live in a country where there are still in and around 300,000 people not vaccinated and interestingly around 70,000 people who’ve had their first dose, but haven’t come forward for their second dose.”
Harris said he is in favour of seeking “urgent advice” from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) regarding a widespread booster campaign.
Government is currently awaiting advice from NIAC in relation to this and expects a decision next week.
However, NIAC chair Professor Karina Butler said the focus in Ireland should be on people who remain unvaccinated rather than pushing for a widespread booster campaign.
She told RTÉ radio that with so much focus on boosters the number of people in Ireland who remain unvaccinated is “the real elephant in the room”.
“We really have to look as to why that is the case and fill the gaps in the knowledge, the gaps in information to give those people the confidence and the trust that getting vaccinated is the way forward,” she said.
She also noted that NIAC is considering data on which cohorts should be included next in the booster programme, but that she could not guarantee the advice sought from Government would be ready next week.
“When the advice is complete, when it is robust, if that is sooner, if that is this evening (it won’t be)…I won’t give a specific date.
“The advice will be given as soon as we have it ready to go.”
Contains reporting by Stephen McDermott and Rónán Duffy
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Apollo House is a short term solution and a longer term solution is required.
Apollo House has re-ignited outrage over homelessness.
Others will fill the vacancies.
If you can afford to donate, here is the online link.
@Scarlett Milton: There would be no stunts needed if the government took its sworn duty to look after ALL the citizens of the country in a serious manner. It was FG who brought the eviction bill before the Dail and backed it up with the Courts (2016) Bill. This along with its neo-liberal love for market economics, that makes a commodity for profit out of all human need, is what caused the homeless epidemic.
Brendan Ogle, is a first rate organiser, a leader, who can bring people together in common cause. He has used his energies to do something positive to help and highlight the homeless epidemic in the country. Dame Enda, has done diddly squat, nothing, except to legislate to make the problem worse.
Government are in hiding.shame on them.
@@mdmak33: They haven’t really hidden. Their agencies have taken up the fight against Apollo Hse and the organisers.
Apollo Hse and the organisers are not on the list of approved charities, they don’t depend on government funding, the approved charities do.
@@mdmak33:was just thinking that my sled not a word from any of them . Especially independents where are u all gone
@John Scott: the politicians are certainly running scared on this one.
@Scarlett Milton: Home Sweet Home and Apollo House is primarily about generating a critical mass of awareness of and motivation to address the homeless crisis.
This is about issues and not about personalities.
I smell a rat on this. So PMVT are offering all tenants of Apollo a 6 month residential opportunity? How quick was that?! They are trying to undermine the positivity of what has happened by reducing the nightly count in Apollo to zero quickly. They are working through government funded charities to do so. We saw through it Kenny. .
@saoirse janneau: it does seem very odd that 6 month spaces should open up with such remarkable speed.
It’s stretching things to suggest that these spaces were planned and provided in a week. The truth of the matter, that these spaces were planned already, might not suit Brendan ogle’s election purposes, but everyone but the paranoid conspiracy theorists can understand it.
@John Mulligan: then thankfully Apollo House played an invaluable role as a stop gap measure to accommodate more than 35 homeless people as Storm Barbara approaches.
I take the people involved in Home Sweet Home as principled, humane, idealistic and altruistic. I include Ogle in that.
@Micheal OLainn @saoirse janneau: I think it´s very important right now to be careful not to direct our (very justified anger) towards PMVT. A charity who have applauded the newcomers Home Sweet Home and have decades of experience of fighting homelessness are not the people we need to put under the microscope. Direct your anger and your misgivings towards the governement. What´s their response?
@Micheal OLainn: It’s a very clever spin attack, meant to divide public opinion and remove the huge support the Apollo Hse has received from the public.
The government’s usual response to any display of people power.
@Dave Doyle: you are absolutely right and I found myself falling for it.
@Micheál Clesham: I truly accept your valid and justified criticism. Well said and I hold the McVerry trust and FathercMcVerry in the highest esteem. Indeed I have made donations but I feel protective of the Apollo House initiative which is beleaguered from many sides, most lately from Dublin City Council.
Interesting http://jrnl.ie/3157263f
32 have not taken up the offer yet .. that’s sad really ..
@Dave Doyle: brilliant and comprehensive comment.
what kind of trolls were out tonight?
@John Byrne: I don´t disagree with some of what you´ve said (i although i´m not sure where you´re going with the last line).
But, did the fight against homelessness not need a publicity stunt? Surely no one believes that anything about Apollo House is long term but was there any harm in throwing up a hail-mary move like this?
@Scarlett Milton: You’re a typical example of ‘you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t’. This is not about personalities, and your attitude is unhelpful and you’re simply just looking to stir this typical online drama to pass your time. Be original for gods sake and find something else to poke at!!
Give it another 3 weeks or so and nobody will give a flying f€&k until Christmas comes around again and Glen gets all festive emotional again. It’s government action that is needed not out of work crusties singin Kumbuya.
@TellingItAsItIs: thankfully you will be proven wrong. Your low class jibes discredit your feeble point. The flag has been raised.
@Michael Mark my words. You’ll be eating crusty humble pie as soon as a few of their dole days comes around.
@John Byrne: A load of bollixology from you. It’s not about Brendan Ogle or the organisers. It’s all about the government and its neo-liberal market primacy ideology that turns human need in a for profit commodity. A government that has farmed out its responsibilities to charities. Charities where the majority of the funding goes on salaries and a pittance goes where it’s intended.
Apollo Hse has shown people what can be done when people organise themselves and use the resources at their disposal, the vacant, public owned buildings, to give some respite to the most disadvantaged in society. And it terrifies the government.
The PMVT versus Apollo Hse spin we are now seeing spread across the media is phase two of the government’s response. The first being the very fast court action. This latest stunt to divide people and get the government off the hook wont work if the truth is told. What PMVT is offering the homeless is also a long time in the planning. It too offers the homeless a genuine alternative to a shop doorway, or a mat covered floorspace, that takes no account of the homeless’s problems, needs, safety or dignity. That’s the best DCC can come up with.
Public leaders are well entitled to demand how the government spends the resources. That’s democracy. The government’s sworn duty is to use the resources of the state for the benefit of ALL its citizens. The government and its love for a market driven ideology does not serve its ALL citizens. It serves only a select few.
75 Social housing units built this year, the government’s reluctance to provide council housing is why we are here, they put it on to private landlords to fill the gap through RAS and it hasn’t worked, it’s basically privatisation of Social housing, there are always going to be people who cannot afford to buy their own house and these people should be accommodated by Social housing.
have your say