Travel Expert Advisory Group

bombs away · 10-04-2021 8:08am #1

With regards to this group advising the Government on restricting travel, I can't seem to find any information on them. Specifically with regards to who exactly they are? Anyone know who or what this group consists of?

ninebeanrows · 10-04-2021 9:02am

Yes information about it needs to be released.

Their actions have and will result in huge hardship and suffering for many Irish citizens

Yet we have no idea who comprises it or the methodology?

Oranage2 · 10-04-2021 9:17am

Having America on the list is a huge political decision, I hope they're qualified to make such decisions

bombs away · 10-04-2021 10:10am

This group seems to have absolutely no expertise in the very industry they are making serious decisions about. They are basically going to ruin the travel and aviation industry costing over 150,000 people their jobs. Serious questions need to be asked now about who exactly is on this group and who is calling the shots at the moment.

This extremely cautious approach is going to cost jobs and increase taxes for years to come. Our children will be paying for this long after Covid is not a concern anymore.

namloc1980 · 10-04-2021 10:11am

Who is on this group?

Kivaro · 10-04-2021 10:13am

Is this another non-elected group who will make major decisions that will negatively affect our lives? A group for government ministers to hide behind?

prunudo · 10-04-2021 10:15am

Kivaro wrote: »

Is this another non-elected group who will make major decisions that will negatively affect our lives? A group for government ministers to hide behind?

Sounds like it, never heard of them/it before. Also appears like they added 'expert' to the title to make them sound more important, name doesn't really roll off the tongue.

Fr_Dougal · 10-04-2021 10:56am

ninebeanrows wrote: »

Yes information about it needs to be released.

Their actions have and will result in huge hardship and suffering for many Irish citizens

Yet we have no idea who comprises it or the methodology?

Europe is entering its 3rd wave. Whilst I don’t agree with a lot of the current restrictions I do agree with mandatory quarantine and restrictions on travel from other States.

bombs away · 10-04-2021 11:07am

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Europe is entering its 3rd wave. Whilst I don’t agree with a lot of the current restrictions I do agree with mandatory quarantine and restrictions on travel from other States.

And what about people who are fully vaccinated so? Are they exempt from quarantine? Isn’t that the whole point of vaccines in the first place? To allow us to return to normal lives. We won’t get rid of Covid, it’s with us now for life. Will these restrictions still be with us even though we’re vaccinated? What’s the endgame here? No mention of when these restrictions end. Serious questions need to be asked now of some of the decisions this group as-well as others are making. Our freedoms are slowly being eroded by nameless people hiding behind an anonymous group. We need to be worried about this, I can’t understand how people aren’t.

Fr_Dougal · 10-04-2021 12:21pm

bombs away wrote: »

And what about people who are fully vaccinated so? Are they exempt from quarantine? Isn’t that the whole point of vaccines in the first place? To allow us to return to normal lives. We won’t get rid of Covid, it’s with us now for life. Will these restrictions still be with us even though we’re vaccinated? What’s the endgame here? No mention of when these restrictions end. Serious questions need to be asked now of some of the decisions this group as-well as others are making. Our freedoms are slowly being eroded by nameless people hiding behind an anonymous group. We need to be worried about this, I can’t understand how people aren’t.

Being vaccinated doesn’t mean that you can’t transmit the virus. Wait until the most vulnerable in the country are vaccinated, whole new ballgame then.

10-04-2021 12:26pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Being vaccinated doesn’t mean that you can’t transmit the virus. Wait until the most vulnerable in the country are vaccinated, whole new ballgame then.

Who informs you? If you aren't shedding virus, you are infecting others so let's nip that piece of misinformation in the bud right there now.

scamalert · 10-04-2021 12:28pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Being vaccinated doesn’t mean that you can’t transmit the virus. Wait until the most vulnerable in the country are vaccinated, whole new ballgame then.

usual pro lockdown crap being waffled, as others said who is the group and what are decisions based on that need answering questions, crap like new strains, vaccines can be reserved for 5yrs from now on, as theres f all plans made to living with it as most people realize this in only way further not hiding for years to come just in case usual nonsense being put up by few curtain twitchers who cant see beyond their garden.

normanoffside · 10-04-2021 12:30pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Being vaccinated doesn’t mean that you can’t transmit the virus.

Rubbish.
Do they bring it in their suitcases or something?

Del2005 · 10-04-2021 12:32pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Who informs you? If you aren't shedding virus, you are infecting others so let's nip that piece of misinformation in the bud right there now.

The vulnerable will still be vulnerable until we get herd immunity. Having a tiny percentage of people immunised won't protect the vulnerable.

Even with immunisation people can still catch the virus and while it won't be as bad it can still result in a hospital stay and the other long term affects of the virus

10-04-2021 12:34pm

Del2005 wrote: »

The vulnerable will still be vulnerable until we get herd immunity. Having a tiny percentage of people immunised won't protect the vulnerable.

Even with immunisation people can still catch the virus and while it won't be as bad it can still result in a hospital stay and the other long term affects of the virus

you have no data at hand to prove that this is in any way a meaningful measurable risk.

NIMAN · 10-04-2021 12:34pm

That's LiveLine sorted for the rest of the month.

We had South African folk moaning about having to quarantine, now it'll be the Yanks.

Fr_Dougal · 10-04-2021 12:35pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Who informs you? If you aren't shedding virus, you are infecting others so let's nip that piece of misinformation in the bud right there now.

Can you provide a link to back that up please?

10-04-2021 12:38pm

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Can you provide a link to back that up please?

Couldn't be bothered searching. Just pointing out you are spouting rubbish. Those who are immunised are not shedding and those immunised with mRNA are definitely not shedding the virus because they never had the virus to begin with rather the surface characteristics of it.

Aph2016 · 10-04-2021 12:41pm

At this stage if you are in the travel industry or hospitality industry, I would assume a lot of workers have upskilled and changed careers? It will be a big issue for these industries to find qualified staff in the future.

Neamhshuntasach · 10-04-2021 12:42pm

Del2005 wrote: »

The vulnerable will still be vulnerable until we get herd immunity. Having a tiny percentage of people immunised won't protect the vulnerable.

Even with immunisation people can still catch the virus and while it won't be as bad it can still result in a hospital stay and the other long term affects of the virus

The vulnerable who are unvaccinated will be vulnerable until they are vaccinated. There is so much evidence from real application of the vaccines that have put to bed this nonsense about being able to shed or transmit Covid when vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, then it should be game ball to do whatever the **** you like as far as I'm concerned. The virus will continue to spread among the unvaccinated. Not among those vaccinated. Otherwise the herd immunity concept would be pointless.

ninebeanrows · 10-04-2021 12:43pm

The whole thing is gas.

Put US on list as they approach herd immunity !

Let's hope somebody sees sense soon and we get some transparency

Michael OLeary has been very quiet but I sense we will be hearing from him soon

bombs away · 10-04-2021 2:05pm

Have sent a FOI request to the Dept. of Health specifically to enquire as to who exactly is on this expert group and what criteria are they using to assess countries for inclusion on the MHQ list. Fully expect that my email will be ignored as that’s how this government seems to operate but if I get a response back I will post it here.

bombs away · 10-04-2021 2:07pm

Aph2016 wrote: »

At this stage if you are in the travel industry or hospitality industry, I would assume a lot of workers have upskilled and changed careers? It will be a big issue for these industries to find qualified staff in the future.

Like it’s that’s easy. Some of the posts here are laughable.

VeryWise · 10-04-2021 2:10pm

bombs away wrote: »

Have sent a FOI request to the Dept. of Health specifically to enquire as to who exactly is on this expert group and what criteria are they using to assess countries for inclusion on the MHQ list. Fully expect that my email will be ignored as that’s how this government seems to operate but if I get a response back I will post it here.

Thanks for that, appreciate you doing something practical to challenge this lunacy.

Acosta · 10-04-2021 2:12pm

Isn't this the group of aviation experts that was set up last year to advise the government, but was basically nothing more than a talking shop who's advise was ignored by the government?

AlekSmart · 10-04-2021 2:14pm

ninebeanrows wrote: »

The whole thing is gas.

Put US on list as they approach herd immunity !

Let's hope somebody sees sense soon and we get some transparency

Michael OLeary has been very quiet but I sense we will be hearing from him soon

The TEAG might have some added relevance if Mr O'Leary WAS on it.:)

AlekSmart · 10-04-2021 2:15pm

bombs away wrote: »

Like it’s that’s easy. Some of the posts here are laughable.

Upskilling to a Degree in Netflix and Pringles is about as much as can be hoped for in 12 months ?

10-04-2021 2:28pm

ninebeanrows wrote: »

The whole thing is gas.

Put US on list as they approach herd immunity !

Let's hope somebody sees sense soon and we get some transparency

Michael OLeary has been very quiet but I sense we will be hearing from him soon

There are a few variants of concern in the U.S including a new one in New Yorkwhich seems to be why they were added
A variant that evades antibodies would be catostrophic if it got dominant
Entry to the USA has been banned for Irish people for nearly a year unless you have a visa or dual nationality
The state department are considerating letting those fully vaccinated with an FDA approved vaccination in
Currently thats jansen,moderna or Pfizer
No entry if you got Astrazenica as its actually not approved stateside yet

I DO NOT LIKE the current situation but am waiting untill july to see where we are at on vaccinations

0lddog · 10-04-2021 2:38pm

AlekSmart wrote: »

The TEAG might have some added relevance if Mr O'Leary WAS on it.:)

+1
That the majority of Mr O'Leary's aviation group is no longer Irish speaks volumes for how Mr O'Leary sees the future

10-04-2021 2:59pm

Marine Layer wrote: »

There are a few variants of concern in the U.S including a which seems to be why they were added
A variant that evades antibodies would be catostrophic if it got dominant
Entry to the USA has been banned for Irish people for nearly a year unless you have a visa or dual nationality
The state department are considerating letting those fully vaccinated with an FDA approved vaccination in
Currently thats jansen,moderna or Pfizer
No entry if you got Astrazenica as its actually not approved stateside yet

I DO NOT LIKE the current situation but am waiting untill july to see where we are at on vaccinations

economic collapse would be quite bad too, do people even get the damage being done, by this madness.

so if its about variants, then the country will never open up, the disease will always mutate like the flu,

were borrowing 500m a week at the moment, to support the pup, industries, the dole etc.

Ive paid taxes all my life and need to be able to travel to the US for my work, I have never taken a penny from the state,

but this is the last straw, im off, ill pay my taxes somewhere else, BTW im vaccinated.

Just to add the housing collapse of 2008, is nothing compared to the damge being down now,other countries are getting on with it, there is more dmaage being done now, Bertie and Co will look mild compared to the damage being done,

when the tribunals start about who knew what when, feel comfotated, that most involved will be on big pensions, paid for by the private sector.

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 4:45pm

normanoffside wrote: »

Rubbish.
Do they bring it in their suitcases or something?

There is the virus, and there is the disease. They are two different things. You might be aware for example that HIV is a virus but that AIDS is a disease. HIV causes AIDS but you can catch and spread HIV without it ever developing into AIDS for you. Here, SARS-Cov-2 is the virus and Covid19 is the disease.

You may be aware, for example, that lots of people have been using hand sanitizer to clean their hands over the past year or so. The reason that they do this is that they want to kill off any virus that they might have potentially picked up from surfaces and things that they touched. For example a door handle or money that they were handling.

The virus can be on a door handle. However that does not mean that the door handle (an inanimate object) is suffering from the disease - Covid19. The virus and the disease are different

Are you still with me?

Ok. Next, the virus can live for different lengths of time on different surfaces and in different environments. If you have been vaccinated, and you come in contact with the virus, your body should be able to combat that virus before it develops into the serious disease. But it will still be in your body and you can spread it onwards during that time.

Now, because your body hopefully eliminates the virus reasonably quickly, it will not have as much opportunity to multiply and spread as it would otherwise. But it still has a window to do so. Your body has the virus but you won't have Covid19.

namloc1980 · 10-04-2021 4:51pm

The fact we can't easily find out who is on this group that is making these far reaching recommendations is a shocking indictment of the lack of transparency around this issue.

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 4:58pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

The fact we can't easily find out who is on this group that is making these far reaching recommendations is a shocking indictment of the lack of transparency around this issue.

Is this what people are talking about?

https://assets.gov.ie/94736/0d942dbd-deed-49d6-b13b-10e6a84495e5.pdf

About 5 seconds on google to find that

At the end of the day, they are advisors and not decision makers. Their identities are irrelevant. They are not directly answerable to the electorate, nor should they be. The politicians are though

namloc1980 · 10-04-2021 5:00pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

Is this what people are talking about?

https://assets.gov.ie/94736/0d942dbd-deed-49d6-b13b-10e6a84495e5.pdf

About 5 seconds on google to find that

No. That's a different EAG. We're talking about the Travel EAG here.

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 5:02pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

No. That's a different EAG. We're talking about the Travel EAG here.

And there is definitely a separate group of people? I'd say it's the same people? I don't know, just assuming that. Maybe a few people with input on the international side of things

namloc1980 · 10-04-2021 5:06pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

And there is definitely a separate group of people? I'd say it's the same people? I don't know, just assuming that. Maybe a few people with input on the international side of things

So you're comfortable with a TRAVEL EXPERT group being full of clinicians with no travel expertise advising the government on travel?

Anyway as pointed out it's a different group but no public information on them is easily found. This should be transparent and not hidden away from public scrutiny as you seem to be happy with.

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 5:11pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

So you're comfortable with a TRAVEL EXPERT group being full of clinicians with no travel expertise advising the government on travel?

Anyway as pointed out it's a different group but no public information on them is easily found. This should be transparent and not hidden away from public scrutiny as you seem to be happy with.

Yeah, it's a public health emergency.

I'd prefer to have input from a professor of epidemiology rather than from the local howiya that advertises free walking tours of Dublin.

namloc1980 · 10-04-2021 5:13pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

Yeah, it's a public health emergency.

I'd prefer to have input from a professor of epidemiology rather than from the local howiya that advertises free walking tours of Dublin.

That's just so silly. Clinicians will take the most conservative approach possible, hence we have the USA and a number of EU states now on the MHQ list.

You're happy with a Travel Expert Advisory Group with no travel experts. It'd be funny if it wasn't so serious.

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 5:18pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

That's just so silly. Clinicians will take the most conservative approach possible, hence we have the USA and a number of EU states now on the MHQ list.

You're happy with a Travel Expert Advisory Group with no travel experts. It'd be funny if it wasn't so serious.

What is a "travel expert"? Do you mean a vested interest? Like an airline CEO? Major shareholders in IAG? Some fella who spent 2 years backpacking around Asia?

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 5:27pm

I found a potential travel expert

namloc1980 · 10-04-2021 5:30pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

What is a "travel expert"? Do you mean a vested interest? Like an airline CEO? Major shareholders in IAG? Some fella who spent 2 years backpacking around Asia?

A doctor apparently.

bombs away · 10-04-2021 5:42pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

What is a "travel expert"? Do you mean a vested interest? Like an airline CEO? Major shareholders in IAG? Some fella who spent 2 years backpacking around Asia?

No but maybe some people who are familiar with the industry as-well as people familiar with the economical and political aspects of it. Certainly experts in these fields should be on an expert travel advisory group don’t you think? It’s like asking your butcher to give you advice on fixing your car, would you listen to it? You’d be a moron if you did.

NH2013 · 10-04-2021 5:50pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

What is a "travel expert"? Do you mean a vested interest? Like an airline CEO? Major shareholders in IAG? Some fella who spent 2 years backpacking around Asia?

Probably should have some experience of diplomacy as well as the logistic elements of travel that revolve around cargo and imports/exports, people with experience of the travel system as well as medical advisors.

I mean it’s be the equivalent of an “Economic Expert Advisory Group” with only doctors, you wouldn’t exactly get any economic perspectives if it were so, so how is travel different.

Not saying it should be all lobbyists from the travel industry, but the voices need to be representive.

Donald Trump · 10-04-2021 5:51pm

bombs away wrote: »

No but maybe some people who are familiar with the industry as-well as people familiar with the economical and political aspects of it. Certainly experts in these fields should be on an expert travel advisory group don’t you think? It’s like asking your butcher to give you advice on fixing your car, would you listen to it? You’d be a moron if you did.

The purpose of the advisory group would not be to create a list of top 10 destinations or sights to see.

It is to assess dangers related to travel in the context of a pandemic. There should be no politics in that group. The politicians can take the recommendations from the group, and then consult with their political and/or economic advisors in making their final decisions. But the group should be free from direct political influence.

faceman · 10-04-2021 5:51pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

So you're comfortable with a TRAVEL EXPERT group being full of clinicians with no travel expertise advising the government on travel?

Anyway as pointed out it's a different group but no public information on them is easily found. This should be transparent and not hidden away from public scrutiny as you seem to be happy with.

To be fair to the Donald, he’s right. It’s a committee of health officials. They’re not supposed to take judgements of risk. Their number 1 goal is the preservation of life. But they’re supposed to be an advisory group and the government is supposed to make the risk assessments, take inputs from other groups as necessary and make the call.

The issue isn’t so much the advisory group. It’s the lack of transparency around decision making, criteria for inclusion and exclusion and the apparent lack of input from effected groups. The goal posts for inclusion changed recently much to the surprise of even government ministers.

NSAman · 10-04-2021 5:56pm

faceman wrote: »

To be fair to the Donald, he’s right. It’s a committee of health officials. They’re not supposed to take judgements of risk. Their number 1 goal is the preservation of life. But they’re supposed to be an advisory group and the government is supposed to make the risk assessments, take inputs from other groups as necessary and make the call.

The issue isn’t so much the advisory group. It’s the lack of transparency around decision making, criteria for inclusion and exclusion and the apparent lack of input from effected groups. The goal posts for inclusion changed recently much to the surprise of even government ministers.

I agree to a degree.

The fact that nothing is available about this “group” but yet they have been quoted by government everywhere seemingly with absolute authority is my issue.

Why is nothing published aboit this “expert” group?

10-04-2021 6:04pm

Korbin Breezy Lineman wrote: »

economic collapse would be quite bad too, do people even get the damage being done, by this madness.

so if its about variants, then the country will never open up, the disease will always mutate like the flu,

were borrowing 500m a week at the moment, to support the pup, industries, the dole etc.

Ive paid taxes all my life and need to be able to travel to the US for my work, I have never taken a penny from the state,

but this is the last straw, im off, ill pay my taxes somewhere else, BTW im vaccinated.

Just to add the housing collapse of 2008, is nothing compared to the damge being down now,other countries are getting on with it, there is more dmaage being done now, Bertie and Co will look mild compared to the damage being done,

when the tribunals start about who knew what when, feel comfotated, that most involved will be on big pensions, paid for by the private sector.

You'll be doing well to find a country looking after those affected by lock downs as well as Ireland does tbh
2nd thing Id say is,the economy is not going to collapse between now and july

mmclo · 10-04-2021 9:21pm

There is a clear process to get in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXtQMz1RGNw

10-04-2021 9:42pm

Marine Layer wrote: »

You'll be doing well to find a country looking after those affected by lock downs as well as Ireland does tbh
2nd thing Id say is,the economy is not going to collapse between now and july

What july? Why would mhq end in july?

Britexit is a crisis

The north

And the corp tax rate

And then paddy with his m h q, pick your poison its a perfect storm

Travel Expert Advisory Group

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