Are we there yet? Your second Travel Megathread (threadbans in OP}

namloc1980

Tazz T wrote: »

Hopefully we can wave goodbye to it in June or wave goodbye to the rest of the tourist/aviation sector

I'd be surprised if it was just allowed to lapse in June. I'm sure they'll look to extend it for 3 months until September.

Tazz T

Donald Trump wrote: »

Tazz, the risk that you take when you go to the supermarket is that you will contract a strain that are already here.


The risk that you take when you travel somewhere else is that you will bring in a strain that is not already here.



Those first risk is probably more likely to occur, but has far less potential implications on a macro level for society. The second risk may be less likely to occur (depending on where you are travelling in from) but has far more serious potential problems on the macro level.



I hope that you don't catch it at the supermarket or anywhere else. But if you do, the incremental damage to society is negligible. If you went abroad and brought back a new strain. the incremental damage to society could be catastrophic.

Missing the point again. None of the travel restrictions in place will prevent a strain coming in. You can't stop it.

Tazz T

Donald Trump wrote: »

But you reduce it as much as you can Tazz. You can't formulate a public health policy on "there is no point doing anything because nothing is 100% effective".

Wrong. You take a proportional approach, based on infection rate v economic damage. You don't cut off your leg to save a toe.

stephenjmcd

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Emailed my local TDs involved with Government parties this afternoon to essentially vent frustration at the way things were handled around MHQ, fully vax travelers not having a process to bypass quarantine etc.

The local FF TD came back with a reply within a half an hour (tbh I didn't expect to even get one).

He came back with the below, some of which I didn't know regarding section 9 of the legislation,

"I share your concern about the impact of mandatory hotel quarantining and its effectiveness given the Common Travel Area and our shared border with the United Kingdom.

Mandatory Hotel Quarantine (MHQ) legislation was introduced on the back of strong advice from the public health experts on NPHET. I expect it will be in place for several months while the Covid-19 pandemic and the worldwide vaccination programme continue.

As we have seen with other public health measures - introduction can prove relatively easy with removal posing significant difficulties. During the legislative debate on the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 which underpins MHQ, I raised the necessity for a sunset clause to be included to ensure the measure must regularly come before the Dáil for review.

Section 9 of the Act ensures that the provisions related to MHQ may only be in operation during the 3-month period after the passing of the Act, with further 3-month extensions requiring a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

I am looking forward to examining the impact of MHQ when the matter comes before the Dáil in June. I will certainly have regard to the points you have made and I would welcome any further feedback or observations. "

To add to this I replied thanking for the reply etc and put emphasis on vaccinated people being able to move freely, citing the case of the lady from Israel.

Another quick reply

"I agree. I'll be raising the issue of vaccinated people when the Dáil resumes. MHQ must be targeted and evidence based.

Several countries were removed in the most recent review, I will be pressing for this to continue as cases fall and populations are vaccinated."

Donald Trump

Tazz T wrote: »

Wrong. You take a proportional approach, based on infection rate v economic damage. You don't cut off your leg to save a toe.

Exactly. You don't invoke economic suicide for the country as a whole so that some young ladies can jet off to Dubai on the pretext of getting their tits upgraded.


We can get things under control here and then let all local business open up. Rather than doing like they do on the continent and bar people from coming in altogether, we implement an intermediary solution where they can come in, but we keep them in the airlock of a quarantine until we know they are safe to allow in.


If they want to go and get their tits done, then when we have the facilities in place we can let them. But they will have to quarantine on the way back. Everyone is happy. No variants and plastic tits for everyone.

Corholio

namloc1980 wrote: »

They are inextricably linked at the moment unfortunately. The only way out is the EU green cert. MHQ is a shambles.

A thread about '.....control on the airports' is a much better thread for it imo. Pointless having two threads about the same specific conversation. EU plans, individual airport impressions, other countries summer plans travel wise, things that will be needed to fly etc would be better stuff for here rather than the MHQ merry go round.

Tazz T

Donald Trump wrote: »

Exactly. You don't invoke economic suicide for the country as a whole so that some young ladies can jet off to Dubai on the pretext of getting their tits upgraded.


We can get things under control here and then let all local business open up. Rather than doing like they do on the continent and bar people from coming in altogether, we implement an intermediary solution where they can come up, but we keep them in the airlock of a quarantine until we know they are safe to allow in.


If they want to go and get their tits done, then when we have the facilities in place we can let them. But they will have to quarantine on the way back. Everyone is happy. No variants and plastic tits for everyone.

This has nothing to do with someone going to get their tits done. You have conveniently completely ignored the incoming tourist industry that has been annihilated.

Micky 32

namloc1980 wrote: »

I'd be surprised if it was just allowed to lapse in June. I'm sure they'll look to extend it for 3 months until September.

Quite possible it will be extended to at least September, the TD did say ‘ several months’. But what you’d hope to see is as time went on and countries progress with their vaccination programs the MHQ list should get smaller and smaller.

Gael23

It looks like the month of June is make or break for hospitality

stephenjmcd

Micky 32 wrote: »

Quite possible it will be extended to at least September, the TD did say ‘ several months’. But what you’d hope to see is as time went on and countries progress with their vaccination programs the MHQ list should get smaller and smaller.

My reading of it implies MHQ could be there for a while, which doesn't surprise me for some countries such as Brazil etc.

However it should change relatively quickly for countries with good vaccination campaigns etc, would also expect fully vax passengers to be able to move freely over the summer myself.

DylanJM

stephenjmcd wrote: »

To add to this I replied thanking for the reply etc and put emphasis on vaccinated people being able to move freely, citing the case of the lady from Israel.

Another quick reply

"I agree. I'll be raising the issue of vaccinated people when the Dáil resumes. MHQ must be targeted and evidence based.

Several countries were removed in the most recent review, I will be pressing for this to continue as cases fall and populations are vaccinated."

Shout out for this TD right here. At least one of them gets it.

stephenjmcd

DylanJM wrote: »

Shout out for this TD right here. At least one of them gets it.

To be honest I didn't even expect a reply and was quite refreshing to see it come from an FF TD, not a cabinet memeber now but pretty well respected in the party

hmmm

I can't think of a better way to spread Covid than to lock hundreds of students up in a hotel for two weeks.

https://twitter.com/irishexaminer/status/1380928770056581129

faceman

hmmm wrote: »

I can't think of a better way to spread Covid than to lock hundreds of students up in a hotel for two weeks.

https://twitter.com/irishexaminer/status/1380928770056581129

I’m a bit out of touch with Erasmus. What’s the average age of Erasmus students?

ninebeanrows

faceman wrote: »

I’m a bit out of touch with Erasmus. What’s the average age of Erasmus students?

Would have guessed 18-22

faceman

ninebeanrows wrote: »

Would have guessed 18-22

Jaysus. Locking someone that age in MHQ for 2 weeks. Proud day for Ireland if we do that!

normanoffside

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Emailed my local TDs involved with Government parties this afternoon to essentially vent frustration at the way things were handled around MHQ, fully vax travelers not having a process to bypass quarantine etc.

The local FF TD came back with a reply within a half an hour (tbh I didn't expect to even get one).

He came back with the below, some of which I didn't know regarding section 9 of the legislation,

"I share your concern about the impact of mandatory hotel quarantining and its effectiveness given the Common Travel Area and our shared border with the United Kingdom.

Mandatory Hotel Quarantine (MHQ) legislation was introduced on the back of strong advice from the public health experts on NPHET. I expect it will be in place for several months while the Covid-19 pandemic and the worldwide vaccination programme continue.

As we have seen with other public health measures - introduction can prove relatively easy with removal posing significant difficulties. During the legislative debate on the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 which underpins MHQ, I raised the necessity for a sunset clause to be included to ensure the measure must regularly come before the Dáil for review.

Section 9 of the Act ensures that the provisions related to MHQ may only be in operation during the 3-month period after the passing of the Act, with further 3-month extensions requiring a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

I am looking forward to examining the impact of MHQ when the matter comes before the Dáil in June. I will certainly have regard to the points you have made and I would welcome any further feedback or observations. "

I got the exact same reply. He must be getting a lot of emails in from his constituents. Dunlaoghaire?

namloc1980

hmmm wrote: »

I can't think of a better way to spread Covid than to lock hundreds of students up in a hotel for two weeks.

https://twitter.com/irishexaminer/status/1380928770056581129

This is just getting ludicrous at this stage.

Darwin

My FF TD came back to me stating the quarantine period should be reduced from the very long quarantine period which is in place at the moment and that he argued for an expiry date to be put on the scheme. He is of the opinion that later this summer (?) 4m vaccinations will have been issued which will change the situation entirely eliminating the need for quarantine and basically waffle waffle waffle...edit: meant to add at least he came back to me unlike Minister for Tourism and a certain FF MEP.

Ray Donovan

Anyone got a template of an email that you could post up here.....?

Frank Bullitt

With the countries on the MHQ list, is there a timeline for these at all?

Darwin

Ray Donovan wrote: »

Anyone got a template of an email that you could post up here.....?

I'd put mine up, but I have referenced my own personal situation and it would need to be generalised. I'm more than happy to PM it if you want to edit it.

stephenjmcd

normanoffside wrote: »

I got the exact same reply. He must be getting a lot of emails in from his constituents. Dunlaoghaire?

Yeah thats the one.

I thought he might be getting a few because the reply was in about 20 mins or so

I also raised a few other concerns but that was the bit around MHQ.

There would seem to be some quite split views on it within the parties and it definitely looks like some TDs are getting hounded today

Ray Donovan

Darwin wrote: »

I'd put mine up, but I have referenced my own personal situation and it would need to be generalised. I'm more than happy to PM it if you want to edit it.

That would be great. Thanks a million.

AnaB

Money laundering again. From taxpayers - to Hôtellerie.

stephenjmcd

Ray Donovan wrote: »

Anyone got a template of an email that you could post up here.....?

Didn't use a template as such, just took some time, put my views into a formal setting, clear points without rambling, pointing out the failed logic of some measures, the need for a clear exit strategy etc

Read it a few times and then sent it.

Darwin

Ray Donovan wrote: »

That would be great. Thanks a million.

Done! (I left a typo in the last paragraph - sorry!)

Micky 32

Dr Glynn on vaccinated and travelling:

“ fully vaccinated people must still quarantine because there is no international vaccine certification system.”


“ On top of that, we know of cases where ... people who’ve been vaccinated are subsequently diagnosed with Covid, involving a variant of concern.”

Dr Glynn said we are not yet at the stage where vaccination can enable travel, as not enough people have been vaccinated.””

Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan wrote: »

Anyone got a template of an email that you could post up here.....?

Not so outraged to take the time to write your own email?

General Toilet

“ fully vaccinated people must still quarantine because there is no international vaccine certification system.”

What a load of hogwash.