Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tells the Dáil it is ‘very possible’ that Covid-19 was present in Ireland last year or early in 2020 | Follow live updates: https://t.co/eIjTNYtRQCpic.twitter.com/0qV3Eflsu3
Leo Varadkar tells the Dáil that it is very possible #Covid19ireland was present in Ireland last year, or at least in January, and it should not be presumed that it came here directly from China or from Italy.
This in reference to France retro-confirming some cases in December
‘I would rather have a plan that we accelerate if things go well, than one we might have to pause, or draw out, or go back on, if they don’t’ – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the Government does not want to have to reimpose restrictions | Follow live updates: https://t.co/eIjTNYtRQCpic.twitter.com/nhEB8iwaEl
Cardinal George Pell was aware of children being sexually abused within the Archdiocese of Ballarat by notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, Australia’s child abuse royal commission found, and it was “implausible” that other senior church figures did not tell Pell abuse was occurring.
More than 100 previously redacted pages of the child abuse royal commission report relating to Cardinal George Pell and what he knew about child sexual abuse within the Catholic church were tabled to parliament today.
While the commission delivered its final report to parliament in December 2017 following a comprehensive five year inquiry into abuse in institutions throughout Australia, survivors and advocates have been forced to wait for the findings relating to Pell because of legal action against him.
There was concern the findings would prejudice a jury, so they were withheld. Pell was acquitted in April of child sexual abuse charges and released from jail, clearing the way for the report to be made public.
With the closure of Bewleys on Grafton Street it’s vital that the Harry Clarke Windows are confiscated by the state before they are damaged or sold abroad.
Given government monies handed over the decades, its mad they don’t belong to the National Gallery as part of our heritage…
At the daily Department of Health press briefing, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan was questioned at length by Irish Independent Political Editor Philip Ryan.
It followed a report by Mr Ryan on Tuesday that health officials had advised that people aged over-70 should continue cocooning in their homes until August. Mr Ryan reported that this advice was overruled by the Cabinet.
Mr Holohan has denied there was any such overruling and has previously said the report was inaccurate.
At the end of their exchange, Mr Holohan said:
“You’ve pointed to textual changes and you’ve placed an incorrect interpretation on them. That’s not the same as saying our advice was not accepted. It was accepted, it’s in the document, it’s clearly set out. And I don’t have a reservation about that.”
Meanwhile...
Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan (top) and Jemima Burke (in black polo and checked skirt) at yesterday’s press briefing; the late Sally Maaz
At the same briefing yesterday, and immediately after Mr Ryan’s exchange with Mr Holohan…
Jemima Burke: “Jemima Burke, Western News, Mr Holohan, in your statement today, you say we have to adapt to our behaviours in order to live safely with Covid-19.
“However there have been serious concerns raised over the safety of hospital wards at this time. Especially with the past few days. Sally Maaz was a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student who died in Mayo University Hospital on the 24th April. Her family have just released a statement around the circumstances of her death.
“The Maaz parents state that Sally Maaz was admitted to the Covid-19 hospital ward in Mayo University Hospital, although she was tested, she was admitted to the Covid-19 ward in that hospital, although she had tested negative twice for Coronavirus and had multiple health conditions, including a congenital heart defect.
“She died just days after being admitted. Her family were not permitted to visit her over a five-day period and eventually when she was finally tested positive after being in that ward, her parents were rang and told that she was given a few days to live.
“My question to you today is: can you confirm are hospital patients who have not tested positive for Covid-19, are they admitted to Covid-19 wards?”
Tony Holohan: “So I’m not going to comment on any individual case. I’m going to take the opportunity and you’re asking about a child to say, I’m not going to comment and discuss in public…”
Burke: “Her parents have released a statement around the circumstances of her death…”
Holohan: “I understand that and I don’t think you will reasonably expect me to comment on any of the circumstances around…I don’t have all the details in relation to it. This is a terrible tragedy for the family concerned. I’m not going to compound it by anything I would say.
“There are clear procedures in place to try to, in the hospital system, provide adequate and appropriate protection for people, separation of people in terms of risk of Covid…”
Ms Burke went on to question Mr Holohan at length, without giving him a chance to reply, before she was asked to leave.
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