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

MOH wrote: »

The Finance minister is outraged at the numbers of people flouting the restrictions.

I passed there on a walk last weekend. there must have been 40-50 cars parked on the roadside as the car park was already full. Thought there was actually something organised on but was just a couple of hundred people sitting out in small groups of a handful each. Seemed to be a wide range of people - some with takeaway coffees, a small few takeaway pints, family groups. I'd say a fair proportion of them would think they're obeying all the restrictions, but since they had left their homes for something that was neither an essential journey or exercise then obviously all of them were disgusting restriction-breachers. As were the other hundred or so people I passed sitting out on a sunny day in other locations.

But if the minister is that disgusted at this flagrant flouting of restrictions he might want to have a word with the Gardai who were completely ignoring it. Garda cars cruised past me at least four times along that stretch of road, but obviously none of them were particularly bothered about it. Though then again that's par for what I've seen since last summer, they'll go after low hanging fruit, but anything that involves a bit of effort gets ignored for the most part.

It's fairly clear at this stage that despite Paschal's chest-thumping and lamentations that they're well aware at this stage that a huge number of people have lost interest in being cooped up in their homes. There's a very visible, quite costly, but totally useless Garda presence, which is purely for show and to be seen to be doing something.

If they'd put half as much money and effort over the past year into actual effective measures we'd all be a lot better off, but that's far too much to expect from this lot.

Deusexmachina wrote: »

Agreed. My wife is currently on the N11 trying to get home to Wicklow from a hospital appointment. She has been delayed by over an hour because of an absolutely pointless checkpoint by our proud boys in blue which is holding up the traffic.
What do they actually expect to achieve from this nonsense. (Answer: overtime)

amlinopta wrote: »

Next EIGHT weeks CRITICAL according to Professor Nolan. Lead headline on the RTE radio News at 6

Deusexmachina wrote: »

Heres hoping bubonic plague makes a return. You will be a millionaire.

Pdoghue wrote: »

Someone brought up the topic of Miriam.

I've been steadily getting more irritated by RTE's coverage over the last few weeks. If you notice they are basically just mouthpieces for NEPHT (e.g. George Lee) and increasingly they are arguably breaching their public service remit in terms of having to provide balanced coverage. Perhaps they've been given a directive to urge cautious behaviour. An example was last night's TV news where they had interviews with sports people and kids coming back to play sports. At the end of the segment, the reporter inserted his tuppenceworth to the effect that, well sure the advice from NEPHT is obvious, any opening up of kids sports would 'obviously' cause numbers to increase. He said it at the end of the segment, so no one could challenge him. I heard another voxpop on Morning Ireland where they had a few kids on saying earnestly how the restrictions were wise and sensible. Hardly a representative voxpop. The slant this morning on Morning Ireland was that the opening up of restrictions was bordering on reckless.

Nearly all RTE segments now and concluded with the presenter/reporter providing a sort of disclaimer to the effect that, well the restrictions are obviously correct, and that it's inevitable that the numbers/hospitalisations will increase if we loosen restrictions. I don't think that's a given at all based on where we are now with improving weather and increased numbers of people who are vaccinated.

JDxtra wrote: »

Crank up the dooooom!

Headline on Irish Times right now - Covid-19: Increase in close contact from April 5th ‘likely to lead to fourth wave'

JDxtra wrote: »

Crank up the dooooom!

Headline on Irish Times right now - Increase in close contact from April 5th ‘likely to lead to fourth wave'

jackal wrote: »

NPHET boardroom: “Fcuk lads another day of good weather... they are not staying at home like good automatons... any scary projections there Cillian?”

bettyoleary wrote: »

Yes that would happen, why?

dalyboy wrote: »

It’s either a failing of communication, deafness , or basic mathematical illiteracy that he is suffering from at this point. (Likely a combo of all 3)