New Covid-19 restrictions.

Peregrinus

political analyst wrote: »

But can't freedom of movement be suspended in emergencies?! That's what happened after the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.

Yes. You can introduce temporary restrictions on cross-border movement where public safety requires it. You have to inform the EU Commission that you are doing this, but you don't need permission or approval.

Ireland could have imposed restrictions on flights from Italy at the same time as the IRL-ITA match was called off. I don't know what medical/scientific advice the government received at the time about the benefits or detriments of doing so.

runawaybishop

Caranica wrote: »

EU membership means you cannot unilaterally block nationals of another EU state from arriving.

This is not correct at all, EU members can enforce restrictions on health grounds without issue. We did not block flights because WHO advise was that it wasn't effective.

Lord Fairlord

People may find this interesting, from a former judge.
https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2020/03/lord-sumption-speaks-against-hysteria-driven-government-policy-.html

Caranica

Lord Fairlord wrote: »

People may find this interesting, from a former judge.
https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2020/03/lord-sumption-speaks-against-hysteria-driven-government-policy-.html

He is neither a medical/public health expert or a voice of Irish law. Just someone who clearly likes the sound of his own voice, to hell with the damage that might do.

nuac

Caranica wrote: »

He is neither a medical/public health expert or a voice of Irish law. Just someone who clearly likes the sound of his own voice, to hell with the damage that might do.

Agreed. Also like Trump up to recently he doesn't seem to think this virus is s problem

Marcusm

nuac wrote: »

Agreed. Also like Trump up to recently he doesn't seem to think this virus is s problem

Jonathan Sumption was widely regarded as the best lawyer of his generation, made history as the first person to be appointed directly to the UK Supreme Court and contemporaneously published acclaimed books on history. His criticism of certain U.K. police forces for spending time organising drones to follow individual ramblers (not large groups of walkers, sightseers etc) seems to have been overdone. His points related to the potential misuse or abuse of police powers in hassling individuals rather than concentrating on ensuring wide acceptance of the “stay at home” message. The head of the U.K. police’s representative body equally suggested the particular police force (Derbyshire) acted inappropriately. Despite being part of the generation which is designed to be protected ( the over 70s), he has strongly questioned whether society as a whole is well served by the measures being taken. Surely it is beneficial that such a pillar of the U.K. establishment (Eton, Oxford, the Bar) should question the actions of the government. He does not advocate insurrection or the wide scale breaking of the law. By contrast, 3,000 people were sunbathing in a London Park last weekend whose name will be unknown to most of you (Brockwell Park) with limited police intervention. In this light, sending police cars and a drone to follow two people and a dog up a remote hilly path might seem completely OTT.

Caranica

My point about relevance here still stands? This is an Irish website. An Garda Síochána are handling this crisis in a different way to counterpart forces in the UK. Actually my point about medical/public health expertise also stands. Someone can have all the academic plaudits and prizes in their own field and still make dangerous pronouncements in another.