Yesterday.

Seanad Eireann, Dublin.

Independent Sharon Keogan addressed Minister for Health Stephen Donnely on the extension of covid powers under the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021.

Senator Keogan said:

“You would have to laugh, if it were not so serious, at the phrase “extraordinary time-limited measures” contained in this Bill’s explanatory memorandum. As each Bill was passed, that “time-limited nature” was stressed so heavily and yet each sunset clause extension was used in its entirety – every single one, for the full amount.

“When we were debating those, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, stressed that this was the end of it, and once those dates came and went, new legislation would have to be drawn up. New legislation being drawn up would give the Houses a chance to go through the detail of each Bill and afford the Bills the scrutiny that they are supposed to receive in these Houses.

“Of course, that would be inconvenient to the Government so someone came up with this new brainwave. To be honest, I was shocked that this was allowed after all the posturing on how extraordinary these measures are, and as for the time limits, you can literally scribble out the end dates and pencil in any other date you want.

“It displays the most cynical and underhanded attitude towards this House that I have ever seen in my time here. It undermines the integrity of the law, of the processes and operation of the Oireachtas, and betrays what little of the public trust that is left.

Let us be honest here. We are not voting for the continuation of emergency powers until the end of March. We are extending them until the end of June. That means that, at the drop of a hat, when someone in Timbuktu discovers the Sigma variant, NPHET and the Cabinet can, if they feel like it, introduce a full level 5 lockdown without consulting anyone in the Dáil or Seanad…”


Senator Jerry Buttimer rising, interjected:

“Does the Senator really believe that? Incredible.”

Acting Chairperson (Senator Pauline O’Reilly) said:

“Senator Buttimer, please take your seat.”

Senator Keogan continued:

“Of course, once July arrives the legislation will lapse and we will be free from restrictions – wink wink, nudge nudge. I hope the Minister realises there is no coming back from this. After this, no one will take a sunset clause seriously again; no one in this room or outside it.

Once you throw this integral element of legislation under the bus, there is no pulling it back. Future Dáileanna and Seanaid and future generations, when presented with time-sensitive legislation by the government of their day, will be able to point to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and the Cabinet of Micheál Martin and say that sunset clauses are not worth the paper they are written on.”

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41 thoughts on “Jerry Butting In”

  1. goldenbrown

    she’s bang on the money

    the gods it seems in the form of a pandemic have delivered an extraordinarily effective tool for population control into the laps of our inept self-interested politicians :(

    comfortable times at the trough, wha

  2. Nigel

    I’m delighted to see more political opposition that doesn’t swerve into demented or just plain thick territory.

    1. Micko

      Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. ;)

      So,

      Which Irish politician do you think swerved into demented or just plain thick territory?

      1. Nigel

        I thought Mattie McGrath’s and the Healy Rae’s contributions were thick in parts, but probably exactly as thick as they meant them to be. Otherwise, the opposition hasnlt been oppposing much.

        I am absolutely not being sarcastic. A good opposition is essential to a democracy. It’s tricky to oppose during a crisis like this, because nobody wants to undermine public health measures for political gain (witness the Republican antics in the US) but that doesn’t mean mishandling, bad messaging, incompetence and overreach can’t be called to account.

        1. Micko

          Feckin knew you’d get America in there somehow…

          It’s why I specifically said “Irish politician”

          But anyway,

          “A good opposition is essential to a democracy.”

          Yes agreed.

          And I’m sure her important speech will be printed in papers, on RTE news and on every chat show very soon…

          (Waits patiently….)

          1. Nigel

            Yeah I couldn’t care less about your paochialism.

            ‘(Waits patiently….)’

            Well it won’t go down as one of the great pieces of political rhetoric, I’m afraid.

    1. Nigel

      I’ll bet good money it has been explained, or accounted for, or reasonable hypotheses have been offered, but that you’re not interested in any of them.

      1. E'Matty

        Ah yeah, you’ve no idea if they have but you’ve already decided to believe whatever excuse they give. These case levels in such a vaccinated population evidence the fact these vaccines are not preventing transmission. This completely undermines the argument for vaccine passes, mandatory vaccines and vaccinating children. It is a personal choice and can only be argued as personal protection. The virtue signallers are just that and are certainly not “protecting others” as they have sought to claim.

          1. Micko

            Massive Cases is most vax’d counry in Ireland – now equals ‘The Vaccine Passes MUST be working!’

            That’s were we are now…

            Can’t wait to hear the Bishops’ explanation of this one… sorry… sorry “Scientists”

          2. Nigel

            You make it sound as if whatever the explanation is, it will be wild and unbelieveable, when in fact it is more likely to be perfectly ordinary, banal even.

          3. Micko

            Cool

            Well it’s not the first time that they were top of the Covid league tables. Any explanation then?

          7. benblack

            As Michael McNamara stated in the video you posted further down, Micko, when the Minister(Donnelly) in response to parlimentary questions, declines to answer, only to state, ‘that’s a service matter for the HSE’ is akin to Father Ted’s ‘that would be an ecumenical matter’ answer – in a sitcom – then, that’s all you need to know about our parlimentary democracy.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuW8TaAlBfg

          9. Nigel

            ‘because ‘they’ don’t have any.’

            They’re imepeded by the rather basic fact that unlike yourself they can’t just make up whatever answer they want.

  5. doobee23

    But without the means of forcing more lockdowns and restrictions how is the govt supposed to strong arm everyone into accepting the agreed minimum of 8 jabs? We cant allow TDs to know the details of what we had to agree to in order to receive any vaccines at all.
    Especially if omicron is allowed to circulate and provide a safe route to herd immunity – it will become nearly impossible. The only way then would be to have a mandate that threatens huge financial loss or imprisonment.
    The non-recommended use of 40-45 cycles in PCR testing is already starting to raise eyebrows, so we cant rely on the availability of sky high positive tests to give the impression of high case numbers.
    If only Norway hadnt started compensating people who have been damaged by AstraZenica vaccines – this is setting a dangerous precedent.
    If we let that happen here it could end up costing the country more than our contracts with the big pHarma boys (yes there are numbers that big, but dont expect to be able to comprehend them).

  6. Daisy Chainsaw

    Antivaxx have a new messiah in Sharon Keoghan.

    Facepalming in pure embarrassment for ye… again.

  8. GiggidyGoo

    Anyone wondering why the ineffectiveness of a medical vaccine is being blamed on those that didn’t actually take it? (look at the vaccinated percentages)

    1. benblack

      To introduce a vaccine mandate and thus destroying any control group that would contradict the official narrative regarding deaths and the efficacy of the vaccine is my best guess.

      Plus, the barcoding of every individual.

  9. Micko

    Michael McNamara asks Donnelly why his questions haven’t been answered by the HSE.

    Questions about:

    a) whether people died with or from Covid (Primary vs Secondry cause)

    b) Have there been an increase in myocarditis and pericarditis cases

    He also asked if the Covid pass will be expanded to include three and four jabs to be “fully vaccinated”

    None answered yet…

    https://youtu.be/cDY977mXQ5Q?t=1160

    1. GiggidyGoo

      And won’t be.
      Donnelly is as bad as his predecessor, the Boy Harris(who, incidentially visited UCC recently and kept away from questions by students. Noted)

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