Tag Archives: coronavirus

This afternoon.

Dublin 1.

Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters with their supporters, arriving outside the Four Courts before they filed papers in their ongoing effort to obtain a High Court hearing into the constitutionality of laws introduced in response to the rona.

Previously: Appealing

A Bridge Too Far

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Tonight.

Earlier…

Tonight.

Meanwhile…

This evening.

Earlier…

Oh.

This afternoon.

More as we get it.

Earlier…

From top: At retirement party for RTE receptionist supervisor Phil Collins (right) were RTE News chiefs Hilary McGouran (left) and Jon Williams (centre); Bryan Dobson; Broadcasters David McCullagh (left) and Miriam O’Callaghan; Today’s Irish Sun

This morning.

Via The Irish Sun:

RTE’s top news stars apologised last night after it emerged they briefly posed for photos without masks or socially distancing at a leaving bash for a colleague.

Hosts Bryan Dobson, David McCullagh and Miriam O’Callaghan were among attendees at an “impromptu gathering” for departing Phil Collins.

All three stars apologised and an RTE spokesperson told the Irish Sun:

“RTE and those involved regret this occurred . . . Over the last few days we reminded all staff of their obligations to keep themselves and the site safe.”

The state broadcaster last night confirmed a “small number” of officials and on-screen talent attended a low-key bash earlier this month.

RTE’s top news stars apologise over briefly posing for pics with no masks or distancing at colleague’s farewell bash (Irish Sun)

Update:

Dr. Gabriel Scally

On Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One.

Claire Byrne asked Public health physician. Professor Gabriel Scally about the RTÉ gathering…

“I was actually speechless when I saw the photographs. It’s quite remarkable, people standing with their arms around each other, amazingly photographs of people close together, standing on a mat which says ‘keep at least two metres distance’. A mat that says it and they’re standing on it with their arms around each other’s backs and around each other’s shoulders in some cases. And not only, I understand it was, the view will be it was a momentary absence of caution but these photographs were put up on the RTÉ’s internal website. I think it’s astounding.”

Dr Scally added:

“I was looking on RTE’s news website there for their coverage to see what the position was but I can’t find anything about it on RTÉ’s news website…”

Ms Byrne then read out a statement from RTÉ News boss Jon Williams, which said:

“I deeply regret not thinking through the consequences of a momentary lapse of judgment. It was wrong and I’m very sorry.”

Dr Scally responded:

“Well that’s good, I think saying sorry is the right thing to do…because it was irresponsible, it was a terrible lapse, not just on behalf of one or two people but quite a number of people.”

Later, Ms Byrne said:

“Just on the photographs, RTE tell is that the photographs were published on a website for retired RTE staff. It’s a public website run privately by former RTE staff members so it’s not strictly the RTE internal website, just to clarify that.”

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…


Last night.

Dail Eireann.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath makes a passionate contribution to a debate on the final report of the Michael McNamara-chaired Special Committee on Covid-19 Response.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly’s absence during the speech was noted by Deputy McGrath.

He said:

“The Minister for Health said in his contribution at the start of this debate:

‘Our numbers have increased in the past week … but right now we still have the third lowest rate of Covid per 100,000 population anywhere in Europe.’

Why then is there all this fuss? We have to consider the other health issues people are dealing with, including mental health problems. I am glad the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health is in the Chamber. There is not a mental health bed to be had in Tipperary. People cannot access a long-stay bed anywhere.

We must ask why the Minister did not stay in the Chamber to hear what we have to say. Has he got something against us? He was with us when he was in opposition, challenging the then Taoiseach and the then Minister for Health.

Now he is on the other side of the House, poacher become gamekeeper, and he has no interest in what we have to say. He is showing total disrespect for us and for the House.

Why must we have such a disproportionate response to the Covid pandemic? It is a serious issue and a single death is one too many. However, I do not trust the figures and I do not trust the PCR tests, and my concerns in that regard have been proven.

The Government will not let any of the scientists or medics with a contrary view within an ass’s roar of the discussions. We have a controlled Opposition, a controlled media and a controlled everything else. It is time we let the people of Ireland live.

We in this House are fine because we are getting our wages the same as we always did, as are other public servants. What about the unfortunate self-employed people? What about the unfortunate people aged over 66 who are not able to live and do not have a penny?

What about the small and medium-sized businesses, as Deputy McNamara and others referred to, that are not getting anything? The lifeblood is being squeezed out of them and they cannot get any bit of solace at all. We need to have balance in our approach instead of this disproportionate impact on people.

Of course we must live with the virus. We are hoping for vaccines but, as other speakers said, I expect we will be waiting. There are games being played by the big pharmaceutical companies, with the talk of being 95% ready or 95.5% ready. It is a big game about who will be first over the line with the magic bullet.

That magic bullet will not be what the Government seems to think it can be. The people of Ireland are depressed and downtrodden, with no bit of hope at all coming into Christmas. People are wondering whether shops and other places will be open or closed. Ordinary people want to get out and work. One would think there is no end to the money the Government can throw out for different supports.

The HSE is, and has been, dysfunctional. I am disappointed with [Fine Gael] Deputy [Fergus] O’Dowd for singling out two particular nursing homes. What about the HSE disasters? Who put the patients with Covid into the nursing homes but the HSE? It was not fit to manage this or any crisis. We see what is happening with the children’s hospital at this time. It is an abomination and it is scandalous. I have no faith in the Minister for Health. It is nothing personal but I have no faith in him or the HSE, who are a case of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

The Minister told us in the Convention Centre that if he was an outsider, he would still be objecting and looking for answers, but he will not give any answers now that he is on the other side of the House. I am fierce disappointed with the way he is treating this House. No matter what debate he is taking, he is flying away from us like snow off a ditch in case we challenge him. It is shameful.”

Full debate here

Oh,

German Police break into the home of Covid response critic Dr Andreas Noack, a nutritionist, during a livestream as he apparently falls foul of Germany’s new rona laws.

Not sure what he did wrong, but under a new law called Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz social networks have to take down “blatantly illegal” hate speech within 24 hours.

That’ll learn him.

This morning.

The first swab at a drive-thru rona test centre opened earlier at Dubln Airport and operated by private healthcare company Rocdoc, which offers the service to people who have not been referred by a GP.

A walk-in test centre will open next week, and they will allow Dublin Airport to process up to 12,000 tests per day in the run up to Christmas.

You give them money.

They stick a thing up your nose.

Win/win.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

All three teacher unions have expressed concern around the ability of schools to keep classrooms both well ventilated and warm over the coming months

This morning.

Representatives from four trade unions representing teachers and other school workers are due before the Joint Committee on Education to discuss the safe running of schools under rona restrictions…

Via RTÉ:

…the Teachers’ Union of Ireland will tell politicians that many second level school buildings are not fit for purpose. The union says air quality metres should be installed in every classroom, to ensure that students and teachers are not forced to teach and learn in freezing cold classrooms.

The Association of Secondary Teachers has echoed that call. It says its research shows that 84% of schools where it has members do not have a dedicated ventilation system.

Primary teachers’ union, the Irish National Teachers Organisation, has also expressed concern that a grant given to schools last week, to allow for minor works to be carried out, will not be sufficient to allow them to install air-monitoring systems.

The trade union representing Special Needs Assistants, Fórsa,will tell politicians it remains concerned at the lack of clarity regarding the provision of PPE to schools staff, and specifically to SNA’s and Bus Escorts who accompany children with disabilities on public transport.

Union concerns at ability to keep classrooms both ventilated and warm (RTÉ)

RollingNews

This morning/afternoon.

A report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) – based on ‘international evidence gathered by researchers’ – shows that while the rona spreads easiest indoors, schools are not a ‘major source’ of infection as they are ‘supervised’ settings.

Via Irish Examiner:

The report singled out drinking and dining indoors, shouting or singing, and prolonged face-face conversation in crowded poorly ventilated settings as factors increasing the spread of coronavirus.

“Consistent evidence” that the virus does not spread as easily outdoors was cited in the report however clusters from outdoor settings were noted.

The report also emphasised the distinction between controlled and uncontrolled environments when communicating Covid-19 risk to the public.

It said a house party was “unsupervised” while schools were “supervised“. The report said this environment impacts a person’s awareness of public health measures.

Schools in Ireland according to the data gathered in the report have not been a major source of Covid-19 infections….

Anyone?

Covid-19 spreads easiest indoors but schools not major source, says Hiqa (Irish Examiner)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Berlin, Germany.

Several thousand people have gathered near the Reichstag, banging pans and blowing whistles, to protest Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German government’s push to enforce coronavirus restrictions.

Germany’s lower and upper houses of parliament are due to pass laws this afternoon which could allow the government to impose restrictions on social contact, rules on mask-wearing, drinking alcohol in public, shutting shops and stopping sports events.

Meanwhile…

Reuters

Yesterday.

Broadcaster George Hook talks to rona restrictions critic Dr. Vincent Carroll on the impact of lockdowns to cancer victims and to Sunday Times columnist David Quinn on NPHET’s unreliable ‘numbers’.

Previously: ‘I Must State I Have No Confidence In NPHET’

This afternoon.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Ministers leave a cabinet meeting where it was agreed that the government would not propose any action that would seek to remove Seamus Woulfe from the Supreme Court and a proposal to fine people gathering outdoors to drink alcohol was withdrawn.

From top: Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar; Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan; Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly; from left: Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance; and Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice; Minister for Education Norma Foley; Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien; Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris

RollingNews