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THE DEFENCE FORCES have stated that commercial ships from Russia which were being monitored after entering Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have now left.
It’s understood that the ships act as supply and support vessels for oil rigs.
In a statement this afternoon, a Defence Forces spokesperson said:
“This week Óglaigh na hÉireann have monitored Russian commercial ships both outside and inside Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As part of their Maritime, Defence and Security Operations (MDSO), the Irish Air Corps Maritime Patrol Aircraft have observed Russian commercial vessels in international waters off the island of Ireland.”
“These vessels have now left Ireland’s EEZ.”
“The Irish Air Corps and the Irish Naval Service continue to monitor activity in Irish waters and to undertake Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO) throughout Ireland’s maritime domain.”
Ireland’s EEZ extends 320 km off the coast, except for areas in the Irish Sea where the EEZ is smaller because it borders the UK’s.
The Irish Naval Service were, during the week, unable to respond and the ships were monitored by Irish Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft based at Baldonnel.
It’s understood that the Russian ships, which have cable laying capability, have spent the last number of days in Irish waters.
They were off the west coast seeking shelter from bad weather and it is understood they were making their way south to Africa where the ship’s owners are engaged with an oil production facility, a source told The Journal.
Concern was raised by security sources that the ships, due to their capabilities of working on subsea cables, may be a threat to internet cables and pipelines off the coast of Ireland.
It was feared that the vessels may have been engaged in other clandestine operations for the Russian State but enquiries by the Defence Forces and other national security agencies have established that most likely they were not.
An exercise involving missile tests was due to take place in February of last year, shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with then-Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney saying he “made it clear to the Russian ambassador in Ireland, that it’s not welcome”.
Russia then agreed to relocate the excercise.
In August 2022 a ship was sent by the UK’s Royal Navy to observe two Russian warships conducting military operations approximately 100 nautical miles south of Cork Harbour.
Russian ships have been banned from docking at EU ports since last April as part of sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine.
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So all the over 60 AstraZeneca recipients who already have less protection than Pfizer recipients now have to wait until next year as there must be a 6 month gap between doses. Very unfair as Pfizer recipients who have stronger protection will get the booster this winter. There was a 3 month gap between first and second doses of AstraZeneca.
@Caitlin Far: people over 60 with underlying conditions who had AZ have already started getting their boosters from Pfizer.
@Caitlin Far: very valid point.I got the Pfizer and in my opinion any one who got the Pfizer should not get the booster till next year.I think any one who got the Astra zenica should get the booster first
@Macca1986: I had two Pfizers originally and got my booster yesterday. Am in thirties but vulnerable.
@Macca1986: my parents with underlying conditions over 60 didn’t get it.
@Caitlin Far: AstraZeneca is a workhorse of a vaccine
@Macca1986: interesting how everyone is an expert.
@Mick Dunne: Well if you think thats the way to go then it must be so!!!
@Ger Murphy: It’s really sad that so many people have no one to talk to and have to come here to share their thoughts and opinions.
You’d think that they would also be giving booster shots to Frontline Healthcare workers as well?
@UnixBSD: Are they over 65, though? I thought they were calling vulnerable people first, and people over 65. Unless you have a low immune system, it’s not something they’re recommending.
Delighted. I’m 74.
I’m guessing the booster shots will have a disproportionately positive effect on hospital numbers relative to case numbers?
@Thomas O’ Donnell: They seem to be working wonders in Israel right now, not only for hospitalizations/deaths but for cases also. They were at 20k cases a day in September and are now down to 700.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: yes, just like the initial vaccines have massively reduced (not eliminated) the link between cases and hospitalisation. Just look at Eastern Europe for what happens with lower vaccine rates and Delta.
People don’t need to wait six months after their vaccine. Simply not true. I had my booster this week five months after. The leaflet said it had to be at least two months after their second vaccine and six months after a positive covid diagnosis.
@Mark Brown: got mine about 4 months after my 2nd one got the same leaflet…. Just wondering did u feel the 3rd one hit you more than the 1st 2 ?
@christopher dyas: Have been OK so far thankfully. Had shingles after my first one so will be hard to hit that bar again! Haha
It beggars belief that Covid19 is on a rampage of infecting people, yet our health authorities are doing almost everything in their power to slow down booster vaccines. Wtaf?
@JG: Give it a break, they have managed th vaccination problems better than most other countries including a hack. We were leading the most vaccinated countries in Europe for a good while.
I will have a go at the HSE when they mess up, they got the vaccination program right. Slow start built up system then power on.
Will the rest of the country get the booster after the over 60s.
@Mick Dunne: Yes Mick. It will be boosters for everyone, about every 6 to 12 months (probably 6 months for certain categories and 12 months for others), for the next few years or longer. Micheal Martin indicated this recently when he said he envisages it being a bit like an annual flu shot. When I mean everyone, I mean everyone who’ll take it.
@Mick Dunne: they currently don’t have enough doses for the rest of the country at present. Not unless they get more doses off the EU.
Why is Moderna not available for booster? It lasts longer than Pfizer!
Got the 3rd one hit me hard for 48hrs wasn’t sick but felt like a bad hangover which been honest I’ve lack of over the last 2 years
Recent data is now showing Sweeden have the lowest mortality rate in Europe, and they do not have mandatory vaccinations, mask wearing social distancing etc. For example Scotland recordered 10.9% excess death rate in 2020 V sweeden had 7% without any lockdowns. There were 64 school closures in 2020 in Scotland V none in sweeden. Qeight gain in Scotland was 54% while in sweeden it was 0%. Rise in alcohol elated deaths were 17% in Scotland V just 3% in Sweeden. There was a 24% increase in depression in Scotland V 6% in Sweeden. Current pandemic measures are mandatory mask wearing and vaccine passports in ireland with none of that at all in sweeden. SURELY SWEEDEN ARE THE WINNERS IN THIS PANDEMIC. Why can we not learn from their success.
Source: TraderNik1 Twitter.
@Tom Mc Phillips: Only if you ignore their neighbours …. Denmark 1.5%, Finland 1% and Norway 0% …… and what was there approach I wonder.
@Tom Mc Phillips: Sweden, the country that the prime minister apologised for getting it wrong. Where their CMO banked on Herd Immunity and it did not happen. Where almost 15,000 people passed away from Covid-19.
With a much lower population density than ours as well.
If they had followed the WHO rules they would be like Norway and Finland who both shut their borders to Sweden. . Norway and Finland got it.
We are being called the best in the world for the way we handled it with our land border with no checks to a country that got it all wrong.
The booster will roll out like the original vaccines did. Slow at first and then building up. A little slower as a lot of people will be getting one vaccine. All us AZ people for example.
Over 60s than vulnerable cohort and off we go.
have your say