This morning.

Italian officials have introduced €100 fines for all people aged over 50 years – both Italian citizens and foreigners living in the country – who have not received a Covid-19 vaccine. Additionally, all employees aged over 50 will require a Super Green Pass in order to access their workplace starting from February 15.

Gulp.

Italy to fine certain age groups if unjabbed against Covid (RT)

Meanwhile…

Refusal or reluctance to have a Covid-19 vaccine may be linked to traumatic events in childhood, such as parents separating, neglect, or physical, verbal and sexual abuse, new research suggests.

Those who suffer in childhood are also least likely to trust official NHS coronavirus information, follow the rules of restrictions or wear masks during the pandemic, public health experts found.

Covid vaccine hesitancy could be linked to childhood trauma, research finds (The Guardian)

Thanks wickedfairysad

From top: Leo Varadkar and Boris Johnson in Dublin in 2019; Anthony Sheridan

Anthony Sheridan writes:

One of the most memorable clips from the hilarious BBC comedy Fawlty Towers involved Basil [John Cleese] upsetting a group of German diners by constantly making references to the war.

Blissfully unaware of the upset he was causing he warned staff member Polly:

“Listen, don’t mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.”

‘Don’t mention the war’ has since become a byword for those wishing to avoid discussing embarrassing issues.

But, it seems, RTÉs London correspondent Sean Whelan has never heard of it.

Reporting on the scandal surrounding Boris Johnson, he had this to say on RTÉ’s News at One:

“He’s the only Prime minister in Europe as far as I’m aware that’s being investigated by the police and that’s just not a good look.

“Here you have somebody who is making the rules for the rest of the country and the police force, the people who investigate crime, are now going to be investigating him and his immediate staff and that just looks dreadful, doesn’t it?”

Host Bryan Dobson, immediately realising that Whelan was blissfully unaware of the embarrassing parallels between the UK Prime Minister under police investigation and our soon to be Taoiseach, Varadkar, also under police investigation, studiously avoided responding to such a dangerous question.

I suspect that somebody from RTÉ/Fianna Fail/Fine Gael has since had a word in Whelan’s ear to castigate him for being the only journalist to breach the mainstream media bias protecting Varadkar.

Anthony Sheridan is a freelance journalist and blogs at  Public Enquiry.

Irish Examiner View: Down the rabbit hole with Boris (Irish Examiner)

RollingNews

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

The Chief Medical Officer will tell the Oireachtas Health Committee today that the current Covid-19 outlook in Ireland is broadly positive.

However, TDs and Senators will also hear that the global public health risk remains high and the country must be able to respond rapidly to any emerging threat.

Dr Tony Holohan will tell the committee that the overall situation has much improved due to vaccination, adherence to health measures, as well as the reduced virulence of the Omicron variant.

He believes that while the pandemic is not over, it is safe to return to activities, such as socialising, exercise, work and travel.

Pandemic not over but safe to return to activities – Holohan (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Um.

This morning.

RollingNews

This morning.

Happy Birthday, Ulysses.

In the footsteps of giants: the ultimate Ulysses walk around Dublin (The Guardian)

Pic: Irish Embassy, Athens, Greece

Snug.

After a long day’s asymmetric crucifix weaving.

Put your feet up.

You deserve it.

Earlier: Reed It And Weep

Meanwhile…

Yikes.

This afternoon.

Temple Street Hospital Dublin.

Clinical Nurse Manager Suzanne Kernan celebrates St Brigid’s Day in protective manner and garb. Frontline health workers have been approved to receive a recognition payment of €1,000 from the Government for their efforts during covid. In addition, from next year St Brigid’s Day will be designated as an extra bank holiday.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

This afternoon.

Earlier…

This morning/afternoon.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2.

Minister for Education Norma Foley in the Courtyard of Government Buildings, as she addresses media to provide further details of arrangements for 2022 Leaving Certificate.

Nice stole ‘n’ metal pearls.

Earlier: Arriving And Leaving

Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews

Broadsheet.ie