Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall and TD Holly Cairns earlier

“People have a misconception about zero-Covid. We achieved it last July when it was down to four people per day.

“Once the numbers are down you have strong border controls and a strong testing and contact tracing system It’s a short sharp lockdown, but the rewards are enormous. The alternative is the Government’s strategy of rolling lockdowns.”

Roisin Shortall, February 10, 2021

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Follow the science.

Previously: Zero-Covid approach grows in political popularity

Barman Charlie Yates outside the Virgin Mary with a bottle of hooch-free The Three Spriit

Yesterday.

Capel Street, Dublin.

The owner of ‘Ireland’s first alcohol-free bar’ The Virgin Mary is hoping to expand his business into the global market with a new location in the United Arab Emirates.

Vaughan Yates hopes the expansion will be part of “a global move towards drinking and socialising differently”.

Rebranded (for fairly obvious reasons) as  ‘TVM’, the new franchise will open in Abu Dhabi this Summer.

Hic.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

A new shuttle bus service has been launched for Limerick’s Covid-19 vaccination centre

By popular demand:

The Vaccine Shuttle Bus.

Via Live95FM:

The shuttle service follows widespread criticism on Live95 from listeners about a lack of transport to the vaccination centre at the Radisson Hotel as well as many people pointing out that anyone who used the bus service to Shannon would have to cross a busy dual carriageway in order to access the centre.

The service which is being provided by Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA), began yesterday and is currently transporting people to the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa on the Ennis Road and will move to the new vaccination centre at Limerick Racecourse in Patrcikswell from June 7.

Shuttle bus service to Limerick’s vaccination service is now up and running (Live95FM)

Yikes.

This afternoon.

Custom House, Dublin 1.

An historical re-enactor ‘arson’ about outside the gates of the Custom House ahead of an event (top) to remember the burning of the building 100 years ago by heartless Brits brave Republicans during the War of Independence.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Della Kilroy and Shane Creevy, presenters of RTÉ’s The Truth Matters podcast

….we spoke to Jitarth Jadeja. He himself got sucked into QAnon – the baseless conspiracy theory which holds that Trump is somehow secretly battling an elite “cabal” of paedophiles, all of whom just happen to be his political enemies.

Jitarth gave us an insight to his state of mind and behaviour as he fell down the rabbit hole, and how he managed to get out of it. He still lives with the responsibility of bringing his own father into QAnon, and he hasn’t been able to get him out yet.

More as we get it.

Podcast: How to talk to friends who believe conspiracy theories (RTÉ)

RELATED: The Arena Of The Unwell

This morning.

Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin.

Extinction Rebellion activists Ceara Carney (dressed as Lady Justice) and Louis Heath (dressed as ‘the State’) protest against ‘climate inaction’ and in support of climate activist Orla Murphy, whose case over criminal damage at the Department of Agriculture this year has been dismissed, but who still faces a charge of criminal damage at Iveagh House.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Press Ombudsman Peter Feeney

 

This morning.

The Press Ombudsman has said 2020 was ‘a good year for Irish media as print and broadcasting rose to the challenge of broadcasting through pandemic’.

No, really.

Via RTÉ:

However, Peter Feeney said there was a huge contrast with coverage online, where he said there was a huge amount of misreporting and inaccurate information.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Feeney said what people got online essentially was “pub talk” and although social media companies took significant measures to address it, he said it is very hard to address given the sheer volume of information online.

Hic.

Meanwhile..

Mr Feeney said there were two categories of complaints relating to covid coverage: people who were unhappy with newspaper reportage, and felt that those who were opposed to vaccines and the public health programme did not get fair coverage, and those who were concerned about privacy issues.

However, he pointed out, just one covid complaint was upheld, which suggests that the newspaper coverage was accurate and correct.

Hmm.

Meanwhile…

Mr Feeney said that social media had been a huge gain for the public in general, but that it also “carries harm” and can be an aggressive environment.

Go fupp yourself, Feeney.

Press Ombudsman says media rose to Covid challenge (RTÉ)

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