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THE TAOISEACH HAS said he doesn’t anticipate fuel rationing in the coming months.
Since the onset of the crisis in Ukraine, the Government has put in place rolling contingency plans for if oil and gas supplies reach crisis point in the winter, which could see essential workers being prioritised for access to petrol and diesel.
When asked about the possibility of rationing, Micheál Martin told reporters today “we don’t anticipate that”.
“We have to prepare for all eventualities, but we do have NORA [National Oil Reserves Agency] and we have reserves and so on like that.
“So at this stage, we don’t anticipate that, but the situation in relation to Russian supplies of gas in particular to Europe will be a matter of ongoing concern and impact”.
“We currently import a lot of our gas from Norway and the United Kingdom and in terms of oil, we have reserves, but the global situation is very, very challenging. And so we will plan for all eventualities, but we don’t anticipate that at this stage,” he said.
He said the Government’s immediate concern is the continuing price impact the energy crisis is having on people.
The Budget in September will look at measures to deal with more medium to longer term issues around costs for people, he added.
The cost-of-living package in the Budget will do “something immediately for people to alleviate pressures in this calendar year and before the end of the year”, said the Taoiseach.
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My sister in law got it. Tested positive. None of her family went for a test. Half the other family members suspect they got it. Personal accountability eh?
@James St John Smith: …They’re not in Dublin are they?
@James St John Smith: gowls
@James St John Smith: Would testing positive have made any difference?
@Christy Reynolds: are you thick? It would stop them spreading it around if they stayed home and isolated. Why are you even asking this?
@Green Lentils: while I get where you’re coming from, if following government advice and self isolating if you are a close contact then not getting a test is of little consequence. If you’re going around your daily business then you’re obviously correct. I guess when you shouldn’t be leaving your home either way, the motivation to get tested is going to be rather low.
@Green Lentils: They may even have had a false negative, I know of cases where people have had negative test but all the symptoms. There’s a difference between not isolating and not taking a test.
Is it possible credibility is now lost by government and nphet? Begining to think so, especially after the green list being published….
@Sean Oige: The green list is a government decision, not an NPHET. I think if you look back its when government started to diverge from NPHET advice that people started to doubt the credibility.
@Sean Oige: what’s that got to do with this? This is about a load of selfish cl.wns
@Realist: How can you blame NPHET or the Government of someone does not go for a test? Its just selfish!
@For Goodness Sake: assume that wasn’t for me, I agree with you! Selfish doesn’t even touch the surface
@Sean Oige: That’s a silly statement – the green list was published last night, I doubt if people have only stopped showing for tests since then.
The problem is much more likely to be multi layered – people back at work and not easily able to get to a test centre, people being afraid to have to self-isolate for two weeks and lose wages, people becoming a bit jaded and not fearing COVID as much as before. More younger people testing positive so their close contacts are younger and less conscientious etc etc
Oh, and before anyone goes off on one, I’m not saying any of that is excuseable, I’m just saying that these are probably all contributing factors.
@Dara O’Brien: Lack of legislation and fines too!
This a matter of National importance during a worldwide pandemic. Government needs to immediately put measures in place where these individuals do not have any choice. This is a crisis !
@Dave Phelan: in the national interest it’s time for large fines for people who don’t follow health procedures.
@Dave Phelan: I’d have no problem taking the test BUT if you attempted to force tests/penalties it would just place pressure on those with covid to lie declaring close contacts
@Murr Paul: so do nothing and 25% don’t show for testing? Time to cut out the PC approach , do you not get it? This is a global pandemic we do not have time for political correctness!
@Dave Phelan: This is a bad flu!
This angers me so much. Such carelessness, laziness and selfishness. Why am I not surprised anymore?
@Realist: After already testing negative and having zero symptoms I total understand why someone wouldn’t want to travel perhaps a vast distance to get a swab up their noise AGAIN
@Murr Paul: testing negative on day zero. I mean of course medicine and science is wrong. Sure why would those poor little souls have to go get a second test? There is only people dying. …
@Realist: a close contact is never tested on day zero. By the time their contact becomes an identified positive case at least 5 days will have passed. At the earliest scenario with test and trace time averages day zero is at the very minimum day 5 after exposure . So day 7 is really day 12. Or more .
@Realist: GREED
What a bunch of möröns not getting tested. So essentially people whinge about government restrictions, that they’re unnecessary and really that we need to take personal responsibility…. Yet only three in four are bothering to…
If you’re going to throw the blackmail line of schools reopening here, you can be sure you’re exerting even more pressure on people. If there is an issue with people failing to accept testing engage local public health teams to engage with people , not successive media articles & interviews that will only have the effect of turning sections of the population against the other.
Then maybe put legislation in place that people cannot be laid off or that the state covers their isolation .
When the HSE is legally allowed to tell staff to work despite being suspected cases with the danger of infecting patients, what morals does the HSE have ?
Credibility lost when is was revealed govt are not following NEPHET advice, just do so where it suits them
@@mdmak33: Well clearly 25% of people who should be tested need to be told what to do…
@@mdmak33: not an excuse
@@mdmak33: NEPHET are only concerned with public health the government take their advice and balance it out between the ecomony and public health, and thats the way it should work
Tossers.
No cure for stupid unfortunately :(
Hire Liam Neeson,
That should sort the problem.
Build a bridge this is getting so boring
Pyramid schemes ALWAYS FAIL. Wrecked a country or a few I believe. Nothing to what’s happening now.
Stop making people jump through hoops and they will get tested ~~ Simple
What’s the cost for a test?
@Darren Sheridan: It’s free of charge if referenced by GP so really there’s no reason one shouldn’t show up to the test
@Seriousnojoke: how much does it cost to get a reference from a GP.
@Mr Cylinical: it’s free
@Lorraine Mac Rory: Sometimes
have your say