Covid 19 Part XXXIII-231,484 ROI(4,610 deaths)116,197 NI (2,107 deaths)(23/03)Read OP

They need to stop laughing and joking whenever hospitality is brought up ffs.

In no particular order...

1) Pay rises in the public sector again - and at the same time they leave everyone on PUP feeling guilty by telling us all how much it's costing on every single news bulletin. It isn't my fault my job disappeared - just stop reminding me how expensive my existence is at every opportunity please. How much are these new pay-rises going to cost out of interest? Haven't heard that.

2) The nation still under a 5km rule because it's tied to the covid-related eviction ban legislation so it's just more convenient to leave it all as-is. Legislators keeping us all locked down because they are unable to amend the legislation apparently. Where's the fuhking ballot box?

3) The government gives absolutely nothing back to the people despite case numbers collapsing - and the plummeting cases is our good work... not the governments. The government has certainly not played its part. For christ's sake, let me see my friends in the park. Let me go up a bloody mountain. I can't even get my kayak into the bloody sea because the beach might be too crowded to launch it when I get there. Trust us to be sensible and most of us will be.

4) Schools should already be back. Creches should already be back. Services like hairdressers etc and non-essential retail should be coming back now. Click and collect for those that can operate it is fine - we'd be happy with that.

5) Where's the monitoring for people flying onto this damn island from god knows where? You admitted ages ago that we needed a hotel-quarantine set-up. So where is it? Is it even close to being ready yet? What are you doing? Is it too difficult for you to work out? Or are you hoping we'll all get upset at something else and forget about it?

6) I understand that people in care homes are all vaccinated now. Is that true for the staff there too? Because my friend works in one and is still waiting. Are hospitals as safe as they can be yet while staff still await their jabs? My friends father, who has cancer, actually left his hospice the other day in disgust at the amount of people coming and going. He's unvaccinated as apparently he's not worth the shot.

7) Why is close-contact tracing/testing still not efficient enough to stop local the explosions of community cases? Is this why we are still under such tight restrictions? Because they can't sort out minor outbreaks before they become major?

8) Actually come to think of it, how many cases are actually community based at the moment? What percentage is occurring in institutions like hospitals and care homes - as opposed to the community? Are there even really enough community cases to justify all of these Level 5 restrictions?

9) This new plan, based on vaccines was undermined before it was even released with this evening's news on yet more reduced deliveries from AstraZeneca. What now Micheál? Your plan was scuppered before your spittle even hit the podium.

10) Will somebody please give Stephen Donnelly a dig-out? No one could handle what he's been given. Even if he was competent, he'd be in trouble.

11) Why is so much spoken about dates? Forget dates - give us numbers. If we can hold under 700 cases for seven days give us inter-county travel back - or something like that. Ask NPHET to attach target numbers to each of the 5 levels. That would give us a plan. A motivation. A common goal to work towards.

12) I had another one but I've forgotten what it was.

</rant>

Turtwig wrote: »

Why do you think schools are being phased so cautiously? It's unknown whether this new variant spreads easier among children. My understanding is that it doesn't but it's not a closed question. Others on this thread have stated that it does. They don't really have to choice but see how case numbers go when the schools reopen. If as the original UK suggestion was that this variant spreads more easily in adolescents then schools could become a bigger challenge than before.

I agree re outdoor stuff btw.

There is no doubt that there will be outbreaks in schools. Will they have a proper plan to deal with that now or pretend it’s not happening like the last time.

Wurzel gunmage across the pond has an actual plan.
All we have is a fcukin gombeen waffling words.
Sick of the endless fcukin nonsense now.

Donelley doesn't even get an invite to these anymore.

Arghus wrote: »

Donelley doesn't even get an invite to these anymore.

Is he seriously not there? Ah here. This government is a farce.

lawred2 wrote: »

which do you think is the highest priority for the state?

children's education

or

golfing

?

Golfing doesn't require big moves on the part of the state, private business could accommodate it in the morning and would be glad to do so.

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Wurzel gunmage across the pond has an actual plan.
All we have is a fcukin gombeen waffling words.
Sick of the endless fcukin nonsense now.

I’d be very wary of boris Johnson’s so called plan

He would say or do anything for some short term popularity and a few headlines.

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

That's the thing though, considering it's an open question, why are we looking at such a rapid reopening of schools? Sure it's phased, but compared to pur attitude towards everything else it's very fast paced. It just doesn't line up with the messaging around everything else.

Same with the foreign travel issue. If the new variant is so dangerous, why are we not clamping down on that much harder?

The messaging just doesn't seem to add up with the actions.

Your guess is as good as mine. Two weeks between phases is short and I know the unions aren't the most popular bunch but their concerns aren't without merit. It's very unclear what the plan for controlling and detecting outbreaks in schools is. Often times schools would get very delayed assessments and contacts from the HSE.

Foreign travel is the tortoise. Actually that's probably disrespectful to tortoises. The tortoise won too!

The messaging and communication has been abysmal since the current coalition formed. The original trio were actually fairly ok in my book. Least you knew where things stand. This is a haphazard mess.

From my family and friends whatsapp - over 80 ppl currently - the vast majority are resigned to another few months of restrictions

Some mild grumblings but lots of positive comments towards MM - contrary to some other posts the govt has not “lost the people” what ever the hell that supposedly means

Boggerman12 wrote: »

Mehole so out of his depth in the press conference.he looks so disinterested and is still sulking cause he can’t go to the White House for the photo op

Was it just me or did he looked like he was trying to smile every time he spoke of opening up? It looked like his communications people thought that would be a good idea. Positive attachment or something.

Why can't they give us stimulus cheques?

Apparently the patriots are trying to organise a protest for Saturday. Hopefully the Gardai deal with them. They stopped some Dublin hairdresser looking for publicity earlier today at least.

They need stricter fines to stop that rubbish if we are to ever get things open, just strip the business from her for good.