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

An omicron variant (that is to say a new variant based on the omicron one) would be less severe anyway with so many people having caught omicron

That might mean something if you didn't say it every year.

Hi, this is over simplifying, based on the topic of the thread, however, the government, currently have emergency legislation that can and have removed our basic human rights..as dramatic as that sounds, it is fact, we understand as a nation, this was required for an emergency situation , a pandemic of a size that none of us have never lived through before and a government and health system that never had to navigate before.

However, the power they have, was against allot of our basic rights as set out in our constitution as a democracy.. any changes in said constitution, is to be voted by the people, this was not done.. this emergency legislation can restrict our movements, can remove us from our home, can limit people we have in our home, can shut down whole sections of society, can cocoon people inside their homes, has made it illegal for large groups to gather, therefore protests of any kind, were illegal.. now no-one here think MM is sitting at home looking at people in masks, and rubbing his hands in glee, thinking they have 'controlled us' .but with the political unhappiness and lack of opposition here, its a very dangerous place to be, people could vote in a complete nutjob in the next election and that nutjob could abuse the 'emergency powers' even as simply not allow a peaceful protest to happen.

We also know that these powers, while initially were needed, now are not so much, and we are saving the HSE and all it obvious failings, call me negative.. but wouldn't restrictions, effectively save more lives every year in general?? It would actually benefit the HSE if we werent all drunk in mass numbers every Christmas, hell it would probably benefit alot in society...but it is WRONG to do that and it is ILLEGAL in our constitution , so they have not done it before, but now they can.. I dont want periods of freedom- thats insane to think that could or would be ok.

Just take one look at the laws being implemented across Europe, in what I always thought was a progressive, open and democratic body.. power tends to breed corruption, its human nature..

This for alot of people is more that just masks, or early closing in a pub... there has been a precedent set here... and the fact that people are ok with that, its worrying in itself..

Varadkar thinks he can end the emergency legislation (effectively ending legal requirements for any restrictions) on the 31st of March

So the real question is, will they call the variant to be discovered at the start of March Pi or Rho? My money is on Rho so they don't confuse it with the English word for the food stuff "pie"

My prediction is that Rho will have about 40,000 infections, 50 ICU cases and about 1,000 hospital cases, 60% of which will be asymptomatic people with broken arms. Despite the effects Tony will throw the baby out with the bathwater again

You read it here first

It is annoying to read March 31at as the end of restrictions and then they say "but masks and certs will continue and we can have emergency powers until the end of June"

Why do masks and the certs have to stay? I just don't understand why this can't be a personal choice.

You know it isn't "de variants!" putting us under all these restrictions - its government who decide that (or NPHET)

Why would you agree with them for international travel?

Meh, I have a very good record and a lot of very clear and explicit posts over two years that gave my opinion on what was clearly going to happen, posts that subsequently were proven right despite all the abuse received in return. One example of hyperbole doesn't change that.

Rest assured it would have been thrown in my face at every opportunity if that wasn't the case.

WHO statements are for the world and they recognise that it seems to be receding in some countries. That's not the end of it is all they are saying.

I think for international travel all travellers should be tested regardless of vax status, I accept countries doing this as they don’t want to import cases and testing is the only way to be sure.

Sorry?