Tag Archives: coronavirus

Dr. Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of General Practitioners.

This morning.

On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, RTE’s Science Correspondent George Lee said there were serious questions for NPHET in light of their reported recommendation that the entire country move to Level 5 of the Covid-19 restrictions.

His appearance followed that of Dr Mary Favier who told journalist Audrey Carville that, if the Covid-19 trajectory continues as it currently stands, Ireland will see 1,500 to 2,000 cases per day in November.

However, Mr Lee said that, a letter from NPHET last Thursday shows that NPHET, at that point did not support a move to Level 3 nationally – nevermind the reported move to Level 5.

He also pointed that there are, as of 8am this morning, 141 patients with Covid in hospitals, 21 of whom are in ICU beds and that there are only 39 ICU beds currently available.

Rollingnews

This afternoon/evening.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

A sit-in during this afternoon’s march against Covid restrictions.

Rollingnews

Earlier….

This afternoon

Custom House Quay, Dublin 1.

Marchers assemble for a rally against Covid measures and restrictions.

Rollingnews

Dr Marcus De Brun

This morning/afternoon.

Family GP Dr Marcus De Brun, under formal investigation by the Medical Council for speaking out about Covid-19 restrictions and the nursing home scandal, withdraws from Twitter having “said all I can”.

Previously: Doctor In The House

Marcus De Brun on Broadsheet

At 2pm.

The Custom House Quay, Dublin 1.

For those opposed to the government’s response to the rona.

Previously: Neither Left Nor Right

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Dublin city centre.

Meanwhile…

Um.

This afternoon.

Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin.

Entrepreneur Martin O’Byrne (above) outside his The PPE Shop, the first dedicated personal protective equipment outlet in Ireland.

It occupies the former premises of the Blacktie dress hire shop.

Mmf.

RollingNews

From top: Pandemic Unemployment Payment form; Catherine Murphy

Yesterday.

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy , in a written question, asked the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe to reveal what orders he has given to the Revenue Commissioners regarding tax liabilities for recipients of the wage subsidy scheme and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment  PUP) .

The Minister for Finance responded:

On 25 September in a public announcement Revenue set out how any tax liability arising on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will be dealt with.

Revenue officials sent a copy of its press release to my Department for information prior to publication. There was no instruction from me or my officials to Revenue in relation to this matter.

While the expected tax liability should be modest in most cases, the position as set out by Revenue is very welcome and is a further demonstration of how we will continue to work to minimise financial hardship to the greatest extent possible on taxpayers challenged by COVID-19.

While most income is liable to income tax and the Universal Social Charge (USC) and is deducted in real-time as and when the person is paid, the TWSS and PUP payments were not taxed in real-time and are instead liable to income tax and USC at the end of this year.

Revenue will make a Preliminary End of Year Statement available to all employees in January 2021, including those who were in receipt of the TWSS or PUP. The Preliminary End of Year Statement includes information relating to an employee’s income received, including pensions and income from the Department of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands, as well as their tax credit entitlements.

For the tax year 2020, the Statement will also include information on the amounts of TWSS/PUP payments, if any, received by each employee. In addition, the Statement will provide employees with a preliminary calculation of the income tax and USC position for 2020 and will indicate whether their tax position is balanced, underpaid or overpaid for the year.

Upon viewing the Preliminary End of Year Statement through myAccount, which is Revenue’s secure online facility for individual taxpayer services, employees will have an opportunity to update their personal record, declare any additional income and claim any additional tax credits due, for example qualifying health expenses, to arrive at their final liability for 2020.

Where a liability is finalised, individuals may opt to fully or partially pay any income tax and USC liability through the Payments/Repayments facility in myAccount. Where individuals do not opt to fully or partially pay, Revenue will collect the liability by reducing their tax credits over 4 years, interest free. The reduction of tax credits will start in January 2022.

Anyone?

Previously: Liable To Income Tax And PRSI

Rollingnews

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ:

NPHET has recommended to Government that a maximum of six people from a single household should be allowed visit another home nationwide.

This rule currently applies in Dublin and Donegal, which are on Level 3 restrictions, but up until now six people from three households could visit another home in other counties, which are on Level 2…..

Meanwhile…

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly earlier said that members of NPHET look at a “lot more than cases” when they are deciding about imposing restrictions.

He was responding to quotes from Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in The Currency, who had questioned if Ireland is using the right criteria to make far-reaching decisions around restrictions and economic lockdowns.

NPHET recommends new restrictions on household visits (RTÉ)

Earlier: Why Are We Using Case Numbers To Make Decisions On Restrictions?

RollingNews

From top: Galway City Mayor Mike Cuibbard; NUI Galway

This morning.

Further to Fresher’s week shenanigans….

…the Gardai has agreed to supply college authorities at NUI Galway with the addresses of house parties they break up in an effort to curtail large gatherings, The irish Times reports…

City mayor Mike Cubbard said an enhanced degree of communication between gardaí and the college was one step agreed at a meeting held in the wake of the gatherings around the city.

“The gardaí have agreed to work with the college and give them addresses of houses where they have been called because of parties, and then the college will make contact with landlords,” Mr Cubbard said.

…In a statement the college authorities said it would not “hesitate in dealing with any breaches of public health guidelines in line with our Student Code of Conduct (which has penalties up to and including expulsion)”.

Gulp.

Gardaí to share locations of student house parties with NUI Galway authorities (Irish Times)

Pics: Galway City Council/ NUI Galway

 

Last night.

RTÉ One’s Prime Time.

Dr. Martin Feeley (top left) debated infectious disease expert Professor Sam McConkey (top right) in one of the first times RTÉ has aired a dissenting voice on Covid restrictions.

Dr Martin Feeley was forced to resign from Dublin Midlands Hospital Group after criticising Ireland’s ‘Draconian’ response to the pandemic.

Previously: Dr Martin Feeley on Broadsheet

Video via ivor Cummins