Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645034#Comment_118645034

Oh Micheal will definitely want his "statesman" speech when they announce the removal of the last of the restrictions - it's more politics, polls and optics rather than just information, especially when the details are always in the media hours or indeed days earlier.

He'll want to be out in front of the cameras rather than being upstaged by Leo (again!)

_Kaiser_

Pat Kenny again fretting over mask-wearing and nervousness. I'm guessing he wasn't listening to Ciara earlier.

kirk.

What are the chances of it being an advisory and the shops keeping masks

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645100#Comment_118645100

Listening to some of Kenny's guests there the 2 he's had on are supporting the idea of personal choice , despite Pat audibly unhappy with the answer.

As I said the other day, any retailers who try to enforce it will just lose custom to those who aren't.

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645083#Comment_118645083

It's getting choose to the end, the twitchers are panicking, swimming in vain against the tide.

I still can't figure what game King Tony is playing, after all our abundance of caution it almost feels like he's throwing caution to the wind!

Not complaining though 🎉

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645100#Comment_118645100

Hard to tell, just take your money elsewhere until they cop on to themselves if they try and keep masks.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645117#Comment_118645117

True ,can't stand the things

They do tend to think as a group though in this pc age we live in

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645130#Comment_118645130

Nah it's done... they had one of the industry reps on with Pat Kenny a few minutes ago and he reckons that his members want a change and support the idea of personal choice. Also mentioned that he was in the UK recently where mask wearing has disappeared almost entirely and that he predicts we'll head the same way over the coming weeks.

Sounds right... Irish people love consensus and to be seen doing the right thing. When they realise that more and more people are just getting on with their lives and living normally again, they'll quietly put the mask away as well. By Paddy's Day I reckon they'll be the exception, not the rule.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645025#Comment_118645025

I'll be one of those who will be dumping them in the bin as soon as the mandatory requirement is lifted. I might even record the event for posterity! 😂

kirk.

Gen sec. of NBRU wants masks until end of march when there's ' fewer coughs and colds'

Another doctor saying continue to wear masks if you don't want to get COVID ' there's an awful lot of it about '

This sh1t would never end if these people had authority

billyhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645184#Comment_118645184

Likewise. Hate them.

DLink

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645184#Comment_118645184

Happy dance time 🤣

(I just hope my employers finally accept the tide has turned and they move away from the 2021 rules they are still enforcing... Hopefully the isolation rules change at the same time, that's the one thing keeping the mask wearing going at work... They don't give two fiddlers about our health once we can keep pumping out the goods)

corcaigh07

Listening to Pat Kenny for **** and giggles, he can't let it go. One sided texts being read out and like Kaiser said, the callers earlier advocated a personal choice approach and he kept swinging back the opposite way.

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645100#Comment_118645100

Given how many staff you see with masks half on, below their chin or not on at all behind their plastic screens, I'd say that is very unlikely. Smaller places may ask but at the risk of losing business many will just drop any need for them.

MilkyToast

I don't wear them in shops now anyway.

I'll continue to wear them when visiting particularly nervous and vulnerable family members if it helps them with a sense of security, even though the real security will come from the antigen test I take before visiting.

I'll probably still wear a mask whenever I need to visit the doctors' surgery, because while they are absolutely **** useless against Covid, they might help me avoid the sorts of coughs and colds that lands people int he surgery waiting room with me. That's about it though.

The only way for them to drop mask mandates and not look like eejits is to announce it effective immediately. "Masks are effective enough to require mandates until next Monday 2pm" is just as ridiculous as the notion that Covid spreads slower in packed house parties after 8pm was.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118644996#Comment_118644996

I haven’t worn a mask in any petrol station in months. If they don’t ask now they certainly won’t ask when its no longer a legal requirement

bear1

Already on rte groups are saying we shouldn't be ditching masks. That we should wait until the end of March.

I mean Jesus Christ

Vicxas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645497#Comment_118645497

If we delay when the likes of NI, UK are removing masks it'll ruin us. I'd rather go north if that was the case.

mollser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645497#Comment_118645497

Put Pat Kenny on also early for the giggles, he's deranged! What's so strikingly naive is that they actually believe the existing face coverings being partly worn offer total protection to you - like in reality it might reduce the risk by a tiny bit, but if you want to be protected, don't get on the feckin packed bus in the first place!

noraos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645073#Comment_118645073

To me personally the restrictions wont be fully gone, until the Covid Pass to travel is gone...and the emergency powers are ended , end of March.

We don't need to keep them and they are still a coercion tool for boosters and that is still wrong.

If the Covid pass continues, to me and my admittedly zero knowledge of the law.. it would mean there is possibly a law there somewhere that can refuse people to return home without PCR/ antigen tests/Passes/ or quarantine etc.. and that's against the constitution, as far as I am aware.. people not allowed entry to their home country is only restricted/ or with certain conditions only apply if they are criminals..

That needs to end, and renewing the covid pass til next summer is a joke.

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645083#Comment_118645083

His parents watching children "dropping like flies" concern was hilarious

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645497#Comment_118645497

What's stopping these people wearing them until March 2042?

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645878#Comment_118645878

Presumably Pat hardly ever wears a mask. I'd say he hasn't been on a bus or train in about 40 years.

dominatinMC

What I have found is that most "normal" people have largely moved on/forgotten about Covid, and we are left with a lot of obsessive, anxiety-ridden types filling up the airwaves, texts, polls, etc. I don't particularly like saying this, but there is a cohort of society for whom Covid gave their lives meaning. They could follow every news item, digest all the details, and proceed to pontificate and lecture to all and sundry. The type of person who is naturally introverted, and now they are being left on the inside lane once again, as life passes them by.

And before I am berated for being unsympathetic, I do understand that there are certain people who have underlying conditions, and are genuinely fearful. The only thing I can say is that these people must continue to risk assess, be cautious, use their own personal judgement and act accordingly. Expecting the vast, vast (VAST!) majority of society to appease their anxieties is just not sustainable anymore. Society did what was asked of them numerous times throughout the last 2 years, and now is a time to rejoice that we are finally moving on.

BTW, say a prayer for Orla Hegarty and her ilk 😅

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118646191#Comment_118646191

Yeah these people could go back to worrying and talking about Trump again. A suggestion for them.

VG31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645100#Comment_118645100

Not many places enforce masks as it is. Most staff don't want the hassle and those that do enforce it can say they are just making sure people comply with the law. If you switch the law for shop rules it will be a much harder sell and I really can't see many shops doing that.

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118646270#Comment_118646270

The staff in the shops want it ended.

growleaves

In retrospect the construction lockdowns are looking like one of the worst mis-steps in terms of policy. People needing somewhere to rent now could face homelessness just because there aren't lets available.

Almost no other countries had this policy of shutting down construction sites. A lot of building work is effectively outdoors anyway.

This is what I meant by criticising "monomania", which is throwing everything including the kitchen sink at one issue and pretending no other issues exist. No one knows whether shutting down construction sites 'saved lives' (doubtful) but now we have to experience the consequences of a supply shock in housing.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118644854#Comment_118644854

Michael Martin couldnt ( in a full throated manner ) recommend that today is Thursday , hes the ultimate fence sitting, shivering, touch kicker

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118644996#Comment_118644996

They could ask but it couldn't be enforced.